Agree with all of this. Gray is a different player right now. On 80 minutes I told my daughter there would be 3 minutes of added time if we were losing, 4 if we were drawing and 5+ if we were winning. Getting silly now.
I said that on the SB. In fact there were two incidents. Firstly a foul around our area, but the ref played advantage. What on earth was the advantage of having to get the ball clear from our own 3rd of the field? We then managed to get it forward to Gray, who was wrestled to the ground in a clear foul, which was waved away by Pawson. Doesnt excuse the stupid goal we conceded but the fact is, we should have been lining up in their box, not defending at that moment in the game
Watch this video, the bloke gives away what Troy thought of the decision, (bear with it). He was apparently in Troys executive box.
5 substitutions and plenty of arsenal time wasting, yet only 3 minutes. I didn't even protest as it was so predictable.
3 things about last night: 1. really really gutted we got nothing from that. I thought after the first 10 minutes we were going to batter them. Considering last weekend the team looked well up for it. 2. When Doucoure goes I will weep. 3. Success, wow what a turd cameo that was.
How hard can it be for someone to audit this obvious inconsistency? A timekeeper rewatching with a stopwatch for all stoppages to check which refs are giving massively wrong overtime. Its beyond boring now. Winning and its automatically 5 minutes or more. Losing and knocking on the door and guaranteed to be 2 min less (fewer) than you could possibly imagine.
Yep, Gray is looking pretty inspired at the moment. I'm encouraged by the chances he's missing as he's getting on the end of so many. We don't have anyone else like him. Troy is too slow but usually key in the build up. GD only seems to score worldies. It's good to see Gray making the runs to get those chances. He may miss a hatful but he will score regulartly too. In TD, GD and AG we have 3 good and very different striking options. We just need to replace IS and Penaranda who it's clear will never make the grade. The fact that Penaranda isn't even getting in the matchday squad says all you need to know about how Gracia rates him.
3 minutes is the textbook Premier League added-on time for when a 'top' side is on the rack. Flip the scoreline but have the exact same second half and it's at least 5, maybe even 6.
Point 3 was eclipsed by Ken's 5 minute appearance. Difference is that at least Ken works hard and stays on his feet. He also didn't cost £11m. Everyone around us was screaming for Ken to do well. Proper cult figure.
Success will never be a success as long as I've got a hole in my jacksi. Got to be shown the door in the summer. The comments on the AFTV video on Deeney's red card says it all, soft beyond belief. The Goons have certainly taken their gamesmanship to a new level under **** Emery, I can only assume their players all got the 'Zaha's 100 Greatest Dives' DVD for Christmas. And as for Pawson, another one of the clueless imbeciles allowed to let loose to ruin games, winced when I saw his name on the back of the programme last night. A definite "big team" lover - and worryingly one on the list who's NOT taken an F.A. Cup Final yet.
I have to agree with your point number 3. I can forgive a poor performance if the effort is clear to see, but he was just lumbering around when he came on. He did not chase one ball down, did not jump and contest a high ball, and basically looked disinterested. Maybe that's not the case and he's trying, but that's how I perceive him from the stands. The only positive thing he did was a bulldozing run on the edge of their penalty area, but other than that he was pretty hopeless.
From behind where the movement of the arm looks like an elbow, fair enough, but for anyone who watches the front angle where you see the actual scale of the contact, who believes this is a red, I don't think football would be a sustainable game if that view was consistently enforced. https://twitter.com/IDontLikeSpurs/status/1117871662018383872?s=19
I too like Ken. When it comes to quality he's at the same level as Success, pretty useless, but he does try. That's the least you can ask of any player. Go on, bust a gut for the side, and the fans will generally accept you. He gives an energy and is enthusiastic, but he's nowhere near the same level as the other players in our squad in terms of ability.
All this debate about the red card @GoingDown will still be in the pub debating it with his mates, because that's what it's all about!
I disagree, success has been far more blessed than Ken, but his application is non existent. His lack of commitment was laid bare yesterday by the obvious heroics around him. Masina earned the respect of every fan last night because he busted a gut. Previously I'd have said most people thought he was a lightweight, but he took on the Dunkirk spirit and was inspirational. Success was a disgrace.
So you can two handed shove someone over as long as you do it 0.1 seconds before the ball is kicked for a corner?
It does depend on which angle to look at. If that's the only two clips of the incident, then it's unlikely to get overturned. The second angle, which is the one the linesman would have seen, does look like an elbow, but only because of the theatrics Torreira. I doubt that Deeney did more than brush past him, but I believe the Arsenal players wanted to emphasise every little coming together with Deeney last night, in retribution to his comments. Their tactic worked perfectly in the first coming together. In the first clip, which is the clearest angle of what actually happened, it's clear that Deeney caught Torreira's shoulder as he ran past. But because of Deeney's previous comments of giving a player an early whack to see if they're up for it, you cannot possibly give him the benefit of the doubt. The review board will have that in mind when they look at this, and even though it was innocuous, any benefit of the doubt is gone for Deeney. This is why he's so unwise to say the things he does, as somewhere down the line it will always catch up with you. The media love to build up a match with Deeney's comments so he can never get away from it. Now he's the "loser" and so are the team. I bet seeing Deeney getting sent off, was one of the highlights for the entire season for Arsenal fans. Why does Deeney want to give their fans this moment? It's beyond comprehension as far as I'm concerned.
Bookings etc are still valid but a foul can't be given. I guess this why there is so much low-level josling going on before every corner. As long as you don't strike your opponent and let go before the kick is taken, you're in the clear.
Never a red. Pawson just wanted any excuse to send Troy off. As the lino was behind the incident he must be able to manipulate quantum particles and bend photons. Janmatt was equally culpable for their goal. But we would have come back and won with 11. Is there a biggest waste of air and money in football than Mehmut Ozil?
Sometimes your luck just isn’t in...we deserved something from the game, that much is clear. And we would have got it with 11 men. There was a fair bit of stick flying around for Gray at times last night - but we cannot expect our players to be on top form all of the time, and circumstances last night meant the situation he was thrust into as a lone-striker wasn’t great for him. Thought he did okay on that basis and kept going - it’s just obvious that he has to play with Deeney to be at his best for us. But Success? Untapped ability or not....and that’s questionable, it’s his attitude that is his worst attribute. Would much rather have Cassidy sat on the bench and let Success know he can leave. Has had too many opportunities. Feel sorry for Mariappa given the cup final isn’t far off - but I think the decision to play Kabasele should be kept for the next game and give him the chance to stake his place. Masina was excellent as were the CM duo. Hughes’ form is slowly improving game by game but he’s better centrally. Janmaat was good and I like the balance when he plays with Femenia in front. Think we missed that little bit of quality that Pereyra and Deulofeu bring. Honestly think the referee made bigger errors last night than the red card. He made basic basic fouls that should be fundamentally easy to see. He was led by his linesman for the red - and once the linesman says it was his elbow, Deeney is gone. Was it a red? To anyone who is human and has played the game, then no. But to officials applying the letter of the law, it’s a red everytime. Deeney’s comments don’t help him either, nor Torreira’s stunted height. But the fact remains, Deeney has stuck out a flailing arm and given the officials a decision to make. It was naive and another one of his ‘anger getting the better of him’ moments. No point appealing it - the FA won’t be seen to say that type of challenge is okay. Six points against Huddersfield and Soton and this is quickly forgotten. Spluttering draws or losses in either game and last night will be a bit more galling.
Apart from the obvious 3 minute spell we were brilliant I thought. Gray should have had two but his feet let him down. Looking at the fixtures we have a realistic chance of getting 12 out of 15 points which I think will clinch 7th spot for us but its going to be close
Personally think one of the more scandalous decisions last night was only 4 minutes added time across the whole game. Six substitutions alone is 3 minutes, the red card incident was well over a minute - so what about all the time the ball was out of play etc? I doubt it would have made a big difference but we saw on Sunday last week what a difference added-on time can make. It’s easy to get right, so it's baffling how they don’t.
Left before the end to start the bantz early. Top night in watty on a mondays. ******* hungover to **** m8. Sad!
Also, if you're going to rough up someone, don't pick on a Uruguayan. Their football culture is based on extreme gamesmanship amd with our refs they'll get away with it
Watching that it actually looks like Deeney just goes to barge past him but because Torreira's so tiny, his forearm slides up over his shoulder and into his head. I'm more convinced than ever if that's against a 6ft tall opponent at the very worst it's a foul by Deeney. There'd certainly be no danger of his arm going anywhere near the face of his opponent.
Genuine question: what do they call ungentlemanly conduct in women's football? Unladylike conduct doesn't sound right to me
Decision to send Deeney off was harsh, think he just tried to do a bit of a hand off but his previous comments don't help. His Wolves mask comments a bit unnecesary too. As for the game we deserved at least a draw and some particularly good performances, capoue was majestic, my player of the season for me. Disapointed with Success, should have been chasing everything down but Gray was still outworking him even though had been a lone runner up front for most of the game. As for Z cars replacement doesn't sound quite right to me. Ok with going with something but Rocket Man not easy to sing along too. An opportunity missed..... How far have Arsenal fallen for Deeney's sending off being one of their highlights of the season
Still a little annoyed, however one saving grace is, imagine if we had an international break now...doesn't bare thinking about.
I’m okay with Z-Cars being replaced and I really don’t think it’s anything that would affect the players anyway. And I agree, there are better EJ songs to pick from - Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) or The Bitch is Back would be my choice given their tempo. That being said, it should have been done for next season. Seems an odd time to start now. If ‘fate’, ‘omens’ or ‘karma’ are real then the club have chosen an odd time to replace the song and start baiting other clubs on social media, albeit jokingly.
