It’s a humid Interlull Wednesday in March, the running a blog equal of a chilly wet Tuesday evening in Stoke. Let’s see what we will provide you with.
Let’s begin with Kai Havertz, and the story that he ought to have been given a second yellow card towards Brentford for a ‘clear act of simulation’. That is what the Key Match Incidents panel have determined anyway, a gaggle made up of former gamers and coaches, and a consultant of each the PGMOL and the Premier League.
So, to be clear: on the evening not one of the on-field officers thought it was worthy of a second yellow, and after the sport not one of the outdated refs they bring about out on Sky Sports activities and so forth thought it was a second yellow both. VAR, after all, couldn’t intervene on the evening as they don’t seem to be allowed overview yellow playing cards.
Right here’s what I wrote on the time: “Was it a penalty on Havertz? No. Was it a second yellow card? Completely not. You possibly can’t ship a participant off for that. There was some contact that he made probably the most of, however that’s it. Frank’s post-game rubbish additionally conveniently ignores the penalty Trossard ought to have had, and the one Gabriel should have had proper on the finish. If the Brazilian was booked for a shirt pull early within the first half, what’s the distinction between that foul and the one dedicated on him within the field? Precisely.”
I’m not going to circle the conspiracy drain right here, however this type of factor looks like a tender goal resolution that actually does nothing to profit anyone. Why was there no overview of the Trossard incident which, to me, is 100% a penalty? Why, if we need to take a look at this by a Brentford lens, was there no overview of the incident of their final recreation towards Burnley when David Datro Fofana principally rugby tackled Mathias Jorgensen within the field and bought away with it? For me that’s unquestionably a penalty for Brentford, and way more apparent a ‘foul’ than Havertz purported dive.
I could possibly be unsuitable, however that one was a can of worms resolution, as a result of when you begin giving penalties for that form of factor, corners would principally develop into unmanageable. Gamers can be throwing themselves round as if they arrive from, and play for, Porto, however a foul within the field continues to be a foul within the field. That got here at 1-0 in that Brentford recreation too, and though they had been already all the way down to 10 males, it may have modified the trajectory of it towards a workforce who did their finest to throw away a two objective lead in a while.
It’s humorous although, that is the second time that this KMI panel has stated Havertz ought to have had crimson. His problem within the Newcastle recreation again in November was deemed to have been worthy of a sending off, however hilariously we heard much more about that than the officers ignoring the blatant act of violent conduct by Bruno Guimaraes on Jorginho. They sheepishly admitted the Brazilian bought away with it, however did in such a throwaway method it felt like they had been compelled into it. On that Newcastle one, I can see the way it may have been crimson, I simply can’t perceive how profiting from some contact – which gamers do on a regular basis – will be categorised as a ‘clear act of simulation’. That suggests zero contact, which isn’t the case.
Is there a stat for Anticipated Pink Card? xRC. xSO, maybe. x2ndY? Anyway, I nonetheless don’t consider you may persuade those who the officers are as much as scratch after they say a tender incident ought to see a participant despatched off after they proceed to disregard extra apparent and extra violent challenges each week. Simply wait and see what Michael Oliver ignores once we go to Man Metropolis subsequent weekend.
On Havertz although, simply take a look at our yellow card stats this season. He leads the way in which with 10 in all competitions which, when you think about the preliminary notion of him as this type of meek determine, is sort of attention-grabbing. He’s not the archetypal hatchet man or something like that, however there’s actually a bit extra edge to his recreation than individuals may first have thought. I imply, his first yellow towards Brentford final week was actually harsh, which might have made a second much more ridiculous, however he actually places himself about – whether or not he’s taking part in up prime or in midfield.
Arsenal yellow playing cards this season
Kai Havertz – 10Ben White – 7Gabriel Jesus – 6Declan Rice – 5William Saliba – 5Gabriel – 4
Proper, effectively let’s depart it there for this morning. There’s a bit of additional studying for you within the form of a brand new techniques column from Lewis who seems on the top quality versatility of Ben White – test it out right here.
Have Wednesday people.
