Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
Ten man Arsenal got here away from Wolves with all three factors yesterday, regardless of one of the best efforts of referee Michael Oliver who as soon as once more issued an absurd pink card to one in every of our gamers.
A couple of years in the past, Gabriel Martinelli was given two yellow playing cards inside 7 seconds for 2 offences at this exact same floor – the type of sending off you’ve by no means seen earlier than or since. Yesterday, Myles Lewis-Skelly was given a straight pink card for an apparent yellow card offence, a call compounded by the actual fact the idiots in VAR noticed the video and determined that sure, this was ‘critical foul play’. I say idiots, however maybe cowards is a greater description as a result of they had been too scared to inform Oliver he’d acquired it fallacious.
We’ve got had some dodgy pink playing cards this season. The Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard playing cards that no different workforce has seen gamers despatched off for, and whereas I believe the William Saliba pink at Bournemouth was iffy by advantage of the actual fact it was a yellow upgraded to pink, not less than it kind of exists within the realm of a call that could be given (though the very same offence wasn’t a pink in one other sport that weekend).
This, nonetheless, is the worst of the lot. It’s a visit, it’s a cynical foul, it’s a yellow card. It’s not critical foul play. It’s not studs down the ankle or the shin. Anybody attempting to inform you that isn’t price listening to. Screenshots and movies don’t show that. Take a look at it in actual time. It’s a foul and a reserving, by no means something greater than that. Nonetheless, the so-called greatest referee in England made that call, and that call was backed up by VAR. Truthfully, it’s past pathetic.
It’s not the primary time with Oliver both. He’s the one who despatched Trossard off for ‘kicking the ball away’ a cut up second after he’d blown his whistle, but is now content material to let gamers delay the restart in way more egregious style – even in yesterday’s sport. He’s the one who did not ship Mateo Kovacic off when, already on a yellow (that ought to have been a pink), he crunched right into a sort out on Declan Rice’s ankle. PMGOL chief Howard Webb later justified that call by saying Oliver ‘didn’t need to damage the sport’.
He’s clearly fairly selective about how and when he applies these requirements. Right here’s my guess: if it’s an opposition participant, maintain these playing cards away. If it’s an Arsenal participant, damage away. This was, by a long way, the worst determination of this season and as soon as once more it’s one other of the ‘You by no means see it occur to some other workforce’ style, and with a ref who has earlier.
Truthfully, I can’t bear in mind the final time I used to be so indignant at a sport of soccer. I’ve been across the block a bit at this level, I’ve seen some issues, a lot of issues, however at half-time I genuinely thought of simply turning off, as a result of what’s the purpose? What’s the purpose in attempting to analyse a workforce or a sport when the officers do this? I believe there’s now a physique of proof in the case of this referee and Arsenal that makes me greater than somewhat suspicious about his motives. At greatest, rampant unconscious bias; at worst one thing extra sinister. A pink card not lengthy earlier than we play a cup semi-final second leg towards the workforce he helps? Hmmmm.
With every part else we’ve needed to take care of this season, this felt like one other blow that might end in extra dropped factors, as exterior components take their toll on this season. And but, Arsenal’s response was glorious. Already with out Martin Odegaard who was taken unwell on the day of the sport, Mikel Arteta withdrew Ethan Nwaneri and placed on Riccardo Calafiori to fill the hole at left-back.
We’ve struggled with 10 males earlier than, however yesterday we dug actually deep and began the second half in spectacular style. We didn’t appear like we had been a person mild, the one time it was obvious was when Wolves had a little bit of the ball finally and began spreading it vast, which means our lads needed to work actually laborious to cowl the bottom and shut down the areas.
Kai Havertz, who had two first half headers (one simply vast, one saved), virtually put us forward with one other one. Whenever you see the replay, the ball simply flicks off Jurrien Timber earlier than he heads it. I’m certain it could have been third time fortunate for him with out that contact (I’m selecting to consider this morning, as a result of these gamers deserve plenty of credit score). On the different finish, David Raya made a superb save from Matheus Cunha, earlier than the Brazilian fired vast from the ensuing nook. One breakaway second a bit later pressured Raya into one other good save, however that’s principally all that they had.
The taking part in subject was levelled when Joao Gomes picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Timber which was far more of a pink than Lewis-Skelly’s, but it surely was ten every, and we took benefit. You might see the Wolves heads go down at that second, and what a lift it was for Arsenal. Saliba celebrated Timber’s ankle being crunched like we’d scored a purpose, Gabriel acquired everybody getting in response, and we had some wind in our sails.
The purpose got here when Martinelli put in a left footed cross which Wolves didn’t take care of correctly, and Calafiori was there to use a really good end on the half volley. It was his second purpose of the season, each of them completely hit, and I don’t assume it was any lower than we deserved – not simply due to the injustice of the pink card, however the way in which we performed regardless of that travesty of a call. This group of gamers tapped into their deepest reserves in a month once we’ve had a lot soccer to play, and that second was sufficient to take all three factors.
Afterwards, Arteta was requested in regards to the pink card, and mentioned:
It’s that clear that I go away it to you guys. I’m completely fuming however I go away it with you. As a result of it’s that apparent, I don’t assume my phrases are going to assist.
And on the sport:
I’m extraordinarily happy with all of the gamers. You possibly can speak about our braveness, you’ll be able to speak in regards to the spirit, however as nicely about intelligence. The way in which they managed emotionally the sport, it was unbelievable. And particularly with what we have now to face and the way they felt about it. All of them, simply face the state of affairs, the problem. We went to the second half, the one message was to go on the market and assist to win the sport.
I believe he’s proper to be proud. As I mentioned, there wasn’t a participant on that pitch who didn’t put in a large shift, and it’s bodily very demanding to play a person mild. And right here’s the factor: they needed to. There was so little on the bench to vary issues in areas we would have liked to. Arteta spoke earlier than the sport about his gamers having to deal with the shortage of reinforcements through the switch market, and so they did it once more yesterday.
We needs to be happy with the trouble, and the actual fact they did sufficient to win and take all three factors. However now assist them. HELP THEM. Give them the additions they want, as a result of there’s solely a lot you’ll be able to ask of them. Havertz, for instance, was completely shattered on the finish, and whereas we will all debate and talk about his output, you can’t query his workrate. He runs himself ragged for this workforce, and within the final ten days he has performed 90 minutes 3 times, and 120 minutes within the cup on prime of that.
We had no one on the bench yesterday to offer us a bit extra power up there within the ultimate levels. It’s not about giving one participant a little bit of a breather, it’s about what that participant can do for the workforce and the way it can impression outcomes. I do know it’s their job and they’re handsomely paid for it, however you’ll be able to solely ask a lot earlier than there’s nothing left within the tank. I really feel like we’re near that time now, so it’s crucial we do what must be carried out out there. The gamers have earned it, the house owners can not ignore it any longer. The dangers transcend simply operating out of steam.
As for the pink card, we have now to attraction. It was unhealthy sufficient that Lewis-Skelly was despatched off, however a 3 match ban on prime of that’s simply not acceptable. Arteta cited precedent when Bruno Fernandes had a pink card overturned earlier this season, and hoped frequent sense would prevail once more on this case. I wouldn’t maintain my breath on that, with Webb and PGMOL unlikely to do something to undo their plans for referees to grow to be most important characters an increasing number of typically. We should always attraction right away, have it on their desk very first thing Monday morning, and if it fails … nicely, that might copper-fasten these suspicions even additional. Let’s see what occurs.
For now although, we will take pleasure in these three factors. They style all of the sweeter this morning, and let’s hope that this week brings what we want out there forward of an enormous sport towards Man Metropolis subsequent weekend.
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For extra on yesterday, we’ll Arsecast Further for you in a short time too. We’ve put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or for those who’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod needs to be out round midday. For now, have a superb one.