Pleased Saturday to you all, a really fast round-up for you.
Let’s begin with the information that the FA have laid fees on Arsenal after the Newcastle recreation. They are saying: “It’s alleged that Arsenal FC failed to make sure its gamers carried out themselves in an orderly vogue within the ninety fifth minute, and the membership has till January tenth to reply.”
The ninety fifth minute was when Granit Xhaka’s cross hit the arm of some Newcastle participant who I can’t be arsed to search for, and referee Andy Madley didn’t award a penalty. I mentioned what I take into consideration the incident within the post-Newcastle weblog itself, so there’s no must go over that once more, however I can absolutely perceive the appeals of the Arsenal gamers.
The steadiness right here is that zeal and need to win the sport with respect for the officers. I don’t assume it’s ever an excellent look when a group surrounds a referee, so I can perceive the place these fees are coming from. The opposite aspect of it’s that the sport wasn’t officiated notably nicely, and I feel that’s being fairly sort. It doesn’t condone something, but it surely goes some method to explaining it, notably as there’s a way that refereeing requirements are slipping on a regular basis – even with the introduction of VAR.
Anyway, we’ll possible take the hit and choose up a wonderful. It’s the second time we’ve been hit with this cost this season too. After the Leeds recreation, after they had been awarded a late penalty which was then overturned by VAR, the identical FA cost utilized. In that case a £20,000 wonderful was dished out. Possibly it’ll be barely extra on this recreation as a result of it’s the second time, however let’s see.
Right here’s the factor although, I kinda like this. I like how Arsenal followers are irritated by it as a result of they thought that Andy Madley was horrible. I like how we give attention to the actual fact Kieran Trippier was within the ref’s ear all recreation – and to be honest, that’s a smart-ish method to do issues. Make no mistake although, had that handball incident occurred up the opposite finish and Newcastle had been denied the penalty, they’d be the membership with the cost this morning.
I’m all for issues which create a form of us and them mentality, as a result of it will probably have an effect in the case of the environment. I would like 60,000 Gooners bellowing for each foul we undergo once we play large video games. I like how Mikel Arteta’s ardour on the sideline is now being singled out by dickhead dinosaurs, disgraced TV presenters with bearded palms turned media snitch, and pundits alike. The identical individuals who by no means mentioned something when Mourinho or Klopp or Guardiola lose their shit have gotten a bee of their poxy little bonnets about our supervisor. And that is one thing Arsenal followers ought to rally round for my part. In the event you aspect with these folks on this, you’re on the fallacious aspect.
On the Arsecast yesterday, Clive made a extremely attention-grabbing level about Arteta’s post-game feedback concerning the penalties he felt we should always have been awarded. His use of the phrase ‘scandalous’ in each interview, from Sky to BBC to his post-game press convention, was fairly deliberate. We have now a North London derby arising. There was an extended historical past of penalties given, a few of which had been absurd choices. The one at White Hart Lane final season was a real shame. I feel Arteta absolutely believed the incidents in opposition to Newcastle ought to have been penalties, however his feedback had been additionally tactical.
So if persons are upset about FA fees, nice. All of it provides into the sense of unity you want as a soccer membership that’s attempting to win a title. We’ll pay the wonderful, I’m positive Arteta will use it as a second of studying for his gamers. Discover the steadiness between ardour and making use of some stress to referees at key moments, but additionally as a method to foster the spirit and optimistic mentality inside the group that’s already evident.
Simply lastly, on the broader level about our disciplinary document and a few issues about it underneath Mikel Arteta since he took over, we’re undoubtedly improved in that regard. I don’t assume it’s that we’re any much less dedicated or decided or something like that. It’s right down to our management of video games. There’s much less desperation as a result of we’re nicely organised, we all know what we have to do – even in matches the place our possession is as little as 32% – and I feel that’s an enchancment we wanted to make. We had too many foolish purple playing cards that price us too many factors. It’s good to see.*
Proper, that’s your lot for now. Have an awesome Saturday.
* We additionally removed some the purple card magnets, I feel it’s necessary to level that out too.
