Good morning my positive friends.
That was an uncomfortably comfortable win.
Newcastle came and played a solid 541 formation that made creating chances very difficult, by 80 minutes we had only had 5 attempts. The problem for Newcastle was that their formation made creating a chance of their own, almost impossible. Leno really could have had a cigar on. Only making 5 chances ,until the second goal, might make you think that we were playing poorly, but that is far from the truth. We played a solid game with a good few moments of genuine brilliance. Mesut especially played some subline stuff. Ramsey , playing smack bang in center midfield, showed once again what a stellar player he is. He should have had 2 goals but Taylor derived him of the his opener.
AMN has established himself as a more than competent understudy for the crooked Bellerin.
Just about everyone, including substitutes , did a fine job, although I did feel Iwobi struggled.
It wasn’t a great game of football, Newcastle made sure of that, but it was a very good win that puts us in 3rd position and builds a good head of steam for what has to come.
We will have a much harder task against Everton on Sunday but with Xhaka back I think we will be fine. I’m convinced that if Emery simply picks our best players in their best positions, we can secure Champions League football. That will be looked upon, and seen as, a good first season for the new manager. However, the loss of Ramsey will still be a kick in the teeth.
Positively Arsenal 
Uncomfortabley uncomfortable is the perfect description for last night’s encounter. The only real concern was that whilst Newcastle looked unlikely to cause problems, Anthony Taylor always looked a threat. [insert discouraged refereeing tirade here].
And yes, there were numerous moments – nay, entire sequences – of brilliance that has one already looking forward to the start of next season with a recovered sense of enthusiasm that felt unlikely just a couple of months ago.
I predict a return to the CL at Emery’s first attempt will prove as important to our new manager’s future prospects at the club as Arsene’s extraordinary first full season, all those years ago.
Good luck to the fella.
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Nicely summed up. Some really decent, slick passages of play at times, though up against defending by numbers, we could, and should have had more. Some very good performances.
The match programme said this was Taylor’s 6th game of our campaign, not sure how that can be unless Riley is deliberately keeping the ref pool as small as he can, for reasons best known to him. I don’t think we have lost yet this season under Taylor, a couple away draws? But stand to be corrected. But that aside, I hope we have seen the last of him for a while, despite a good ability to keep up with the game, clearly a decent fitness level and what seemed to this untrained eye, decent positioning, he gave us absolutely nothing, two very harshly disallowed goals, Ozil getting kicked at will, unpunished. Compare and contrast with the officiating Chelsea received in their last Game.
Either Taylor is an appalling referee or he had his eye on a performance for Riley, or maybe seeing things he wanted to see. I worried throughout the game that if Newcastle got into our box ore, they would be rewarded with a pen at the first opportunity.
But, a very decent performance, third in April, think most would take that. Well done to all concerned.
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Taylor is a disgrace, always has been and always will be, but he is only doing what Mike Riley wants him to do, nothing that Riley didn’t do when he Reffed Arsenal in his day.
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we have a maximum of 12 games left this season, with 4 at home, 2 of those in the league, 7 away, 5 in the league, and one neutral
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Looks to me like spuds have the easiest run in with 5 games at home and only two away while it would be great to see them implode I won’t be doing any chicken counting just yet
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I seem to be uncomfortable in any game unless we get a 2 goal cushion, probably getting worse for it as well.
Afterwards, win secure, I can look back happily on a pretty good performance. Some quality football led to 5 + very good situations in and around their box. With a bit of luck or tiny bit better execution could have got the 2-0 lead earlier. Once we did we looked pretty rampant late on.
Big part of the nerves at 1-0 is it means we are so vulnerable to a dodgy pen against or the likes, especially with someone like Taylor. Thankfully they barely got into our box.
At present he’s done two more of our games than anyone else, but I still wouldn’t rule out getting him again. Probably in last two or three games, maybe even Burnley away if it is going to the wire. Also be a bit worried if we get the other manchester referee, who overturned their red at Wolves as VAR, in the run in.
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Booger. not looking good for u18’s and title effort. 2-0 down at home to fucking Spurs with 30 left. Fuck.
Could be left with us having such a good season then falling short in crucial youth cup game against West Bromwich and then this one.
I’d guess format the same, and spurs sat back, soaked up pressure and hit on break. Could be the one vulnerability team has with an almost 4-2-4 feel to it, and one of the two centre mids a slight creative attacking mid type.
Spurs down to ten and we’ve just brought on the big guns in Amaechi and Saka. Need 3 goals really.
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The bottom line is (well, one of several bottom lines) Mandy, is that the pool of available referees is WAY too small.
And nothing concerns me more than seeing refs and linesmen sucking up in an overly-familiar way to famous players from big clubs, joshing around, all jolly good mates together. It’s a big part of why smaller clubs feel they rarely get the rub of the green when taking on the giants.
Basically, it’s acutely unprofessional, leaves them wide open to charges of bias, imagined or otherwise. A bigger pool of refs would likely inhibit this.
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Yes!! Can u offing believe it. U18’s got one back on 86 mins and ended up winning 3-2. In our hands now. Great chance to finish top of Southern section, then it would be game against North winners to secure youth CL spot.
Yes!!
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Wonder why there isnt a bigger pool of refs?
Cost saving? Not enough decent refs coming through? Pretty sure UA did an article a while back with a link where the PGMOL promised at least 22 top flight refs, dont think there are that many. They suggested a smaller pool increases the risk of something like what happened in Italy, but of course could never ever happen here!
Maybe Riley likes his chosen few for his own reasons?
On what we have seen this and other seasons, some of these refs look a bit past- call me ageist if you want, but i am older than any of them! Some seem to lack fitness. Others just seem less able.
Is Riley doing his job properly, and if not, why is he still in place….is he like Gordon Taylor or Blatter, or something else? Certainly have my own theories on that one!
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Am I alone in thinking that Kolasinac’s form in the last month has been the best of his career?
Also been enjoying his conduct along with Xhaka and Papa’s all season long with the, we can say as even the former England coach Big Sam can say it (but not on a UK broadcaster): the unworthy and unprofessional PGMO reps.
Last night’s yellow card for telling Apprentice Taylor that he is what he is earned enthuastic applause from more then just me! Big Sam must’ve paused chewing for a second and given the nod of appreciation and approval.
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< his career at AFC!
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Kola has been very impressive all round, do like this side to the team, we have been taking too much for too long from these officials.
The fans were also good at exposing Taylor and his mates last night, really let them have it on a few occasions. some of their decisions last night defied all logic, just serious credit to the team for overcoming that
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Kola had a really good season. Puts us in slightly curious spot however of needing to be bound to wingbacks and 3 cb’s if we want to get best from him.
Not something to worry about this year and maybe a plus anyway as seems we may be set to use different systems a lot under Emery.
Think first time I saw him was as 20 year old at World cup 2014 when he was playing cb, and looking way older than age. Might have been unlucky to score own goal few minutes into Bosnia’s first ever WC campaign!
Anyway, I assumed when he joined he’d be used as left sided cb sometimes, and certainly as full back often, but he really seems tailor made for wing back role (think that’s where he played for Schalke in his impressive final year for them)
Think we may well go for a young left back who can also play wing back this summer. Norwich’s Lewis caught eye the other day. Seems to have phenomenal running power and good all around game.
Hate to say goodbye to Monreal though. Been such a good player for us.
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spurs, utd and chelsea all in danger of missing out on top 4, I think we can expect to see much more of Taylor type reffing in our remaining 7 games, maybe even a lot worse, they really don’t even try to hide it.
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fantastic win for the U18’s, need to win their remaining two game to win the division ahead of spurs. 2-0 down and with half an hour to play and they could bring on Saka and Amaechi, which really put spurs on the back foot, Saka got our first, and his cross was bundled in for an OG to make it 2-2
have to say spurs defending for our winner was poor, they rushed out after a corner was half cleared leaving Cottrell free to fire home when ball fell to him 8 yards out.
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It obviously helped that spuds went down to ten men so early but why were those two on the bench for such an important game. If your not going to play them to see if the rest can cope then we obviously struggled although the game didn’t really reflect the scoreline at 0-2.
Onto the refs, it was telling the replay of what Taylor actually sore and how he couldn’t possibly of made that decision. I thought it must of been the lino but he was running away having given the goal. I have always thought refs can’t be that incompetent when making some decisions and money must change hands and I think that image proved it. By the letter of the law right decision but Taylor was unaware of it. As for the second goal well that was just a made up infringement, absolutely discusting. The big decisions are not normally where refs try and influence the outcome and last night the about of little things the officials got wrong was amazing. The constant ignoring of when Newcastle were pulling shirts after the first disallowed goal was disrespectful and after calling a foul throw and then letting the Geordies take it from where they liked was just a two finger salute to the crowd.
Overcoming odds like this at home is one thing, although constantly having your players kicked from behind could have an affect later on, but on difficult away days it may become insurmountable.
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Arsenal’s U18’s two remaining games are both away, Reading this Saturday, 6th, and Fulham on the 27th
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Sounds like Man Utd TV on Sky commentary.
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Away goals conceded per game
Liverpool 0.56
Man City 0.60
Wolves 1.19
Spurs 1.24
Everton 1.31
Man Utd 1.38
Newcastle 1.38
Chelsea 1.50
Leicester 1.50
West Ham 1.53
Watford 1.59
Palace 1.60
Southampton 1.75
Brighton 1.80
Cardiff 1.86
Arsenal 1.93
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Excellent result yesterday, Mesut and Aaron in the middle of it all and overall a fine performance by all. Must say I thought that if Mesut’s left foot is a scalpel with the ball Kolo’s is a shovel, I wondered at a point in the second if he reached 50% pass completion. Anyways his effort is there and we’re winning so it’s all good.
Nice to see our 18’s rallying back, well done. Of course it was the spuds…love the cartoon in the guardian this morning about Sissoko clear on net, launching the ball to row space and then minutes later the own goal after a beach ball sized headed ball to straight to the keeper!
United down 2-1…
Looking good!! COYG!!
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tonights results see watford beat fulham meaning fulham are relegated, wolves beat man utd, an og from smalling sees utd fail to move into the top four after taking the lead. Young was sent off
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Lest we forget the the record from the past month, Billy Big Blaggers were telling their audience that Ozil and Rambo couldn’t play together in the same team! For most of the Winter!!
I rate AFTV Media over most of the content churned out by the Blaggers. That’s not a compliment! Looking forward to Clarkies Breakdown.
After the manger was not allowed to play Rambo for a fair chunk of the season, after he chose not to play him in CM (it’s best not to wonder why!) he’s going to push Auba close for player of the season.
Blimey.
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Football Factly
@FootballFactly
32m32 minutes ago
🤝 Arsenal 1-1 Wolves
🤝 Man Utd 1-1 Wolves
✅ Tottenham 1-3 Wolves
✅ Wolves 2-1 Liverpool (FA Cup)
✅ Wolves 2-1 Chelsea
🤝 Chelsea 1-1 Wolves
✅ Wolves 2-1 Man Utd (FA Cup)
✅ Wolves 2-1 Man Utd
Wolves against the “big 6”
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Been a very positive period for us recently. Enjoyed it but not getting ahead of myself at all what with the tough away games to come.
Will really be something if we can find our best away form in at least two seasons at this critical stage, and we surely need nothing less than that.
Utd dropping points another boost though. Think they, like Chelsea and Spurs, have more home than away left. Pretty sure Spurs exact opposite of us- five home, two away.
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Two out of four teams for top four slots:
Arsenal are the in-form team, but have five(!) away games and Napoli to deal with.
Chelsea’s players don’t seem to be that much bothered, only raw luck and PGMOL shenanigans is keeping them going.
The Spuds have been given every advantage possible by FA. Would love to see them
bottle it, but their run-in is just too easy. Only hope is that the 3 Man City games utterly demoralise them.
Ole’s at the wheel, and Barcelona will ruin them. They have games vs City and Chelski – can’t see them making top 4.
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PB
@OliPriceBates
10h10 hours ago
This was the ref’s view of the Sokratis ‘foul’ that saw him rule out Ramsey’s goal (he couldn’t see it at all, behind Mustafi and just guessed). Lino had clear view and gave nothing but ref didn’t even consult with him. Really shocking officiating, again. #afc
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Saw that in Sky coverage Ed. I assumed it meant lino had given it.
Just wondering how anyone knows he didn’t. I didn’t notice him at all on footage at the time.
Not sure if they are required to flag- presume so- when communicating to ref there’s a foul, but I expect they often don’t (maybe to preserve sense it is ref’s call).
Also not sure if that still was from initial stage, where they are both holding each other’s arm, after Newc player initiated it I think, or the very end, where Sok is holding a little after other guy has let go.
I felt hard done by from perspective of how often players/teams get away with those things, but reckon what caught one of the officials eyes was that last moment, when you actually see the Newc players shirt stretch a bit before Sok releases it from fingertips.
If the whistle or flag came before that last moment, or when/if Taylor had no view at all, then it’s obviously complete bullshit.
The second one rankles with me more. If he thought handball…jeez.
If he thought Laca made contact with and impeded keeper….contrast that with Alonso being allowed to smash Bellerin in face with a swinging elbow before making contact with ball…
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The lino was running back to the half way so definitely didn’t give it, it was as bent as they come. The second one was even worse dogey as they come. If you was thinking logically which one would you think more likely a ref being paid or just really incompetent I know which one I have my money on.
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Ian
I’ve just found it really eye-opening how much communication there is these days between ref and linesman. There was that short clip from cup final last year which showed extent of talking, and recently a longer clip from A-League game showing it is near non-stop. They talk as situations are unfolding and even consult sometimes about whether to card etc.
Also stuck out in Howard Webb’s book when he talked about how much he relied on his team of officials, including trusting them completely when they told him about incidents he hadn’t seen.
So still seems some possibility to me linesman may have given it. I expect by rules they should flag though if they do, especially on a huge call like pen or disallowing a goal.
If you had good view of him on tv or even better in stadium and he showed no reaction whatsoever, I guess that would rule out entirely him having any input.
The A-league clip (was from a ref’s farewell there as he is heading to England/ championship- and he actually seems good) had some really interesting stuff. They’d already made decision but decided they should go to monitor in order to ‘sell’ decision to crowd.
Made me think it would change nature of refereeing a great deal if we were ever to hear mikes as in rugby. They’d have to learn to officiate in a different way. May eventually happen, but think they’d fight it very hard.
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Found the vid. Everyone should give it a watch as it opens up on the world within the game I’m not sure anyone could imagine as they watch game normally. I certainly didn’t think it was like this, with so much collaboration over microphones.
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Comment may duplicate here but first one didn’t send
Here’s clip from A-League
Loads to consider, especially the extent of communications which, for sure, I wouldn’t have imagined happened this way during a game.
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Interesting to know if linesman raised his flag for the goal. Tells ref he thinks off, then gets told they think touch was off defender, and so goal should stand. Then they check with VAR. Then he goes to monitor to ‘sell’ decision (not sure if that’s to players, fans in stadium, viewers at home, or all three).
Don’t think flag went up from way he says ‘I reckon he’s off there’. If he’d raised flag expect he’d word it differently.
Also not sure who speaks to him during game at a few points, jokingly at one point. Pretty sure it’s VAR official. Again, I’d probably have assumed beforehand VAR was silent unless big incident occurred
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There is no possibility of the lino giving it as like I said earlier he was running away back to the half way line. The actual pull of the shirt was quite subtle and probably couldn’t be seen by the human eye from there. The lino could see the player going down but would not of been able to tell if it was a slip or push.
This was the right decision but with no logical way of an official making the call you can only assume the answer is something else going on. When you then include the second disallowed goal and the various odd decisions throughout the game there can only be one logical conclusion and we’ve known it for years.
There are some who maintain refs are just really really bad (Andy) but when you see the actual footage and the stats (Shotts) that back them up there really is no doubt they are bent.
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Rich as ian says the Lino was on his way back to the half way line when Taylor disallowed it, if you watch Adrian Clarke’s The Breakdown on Arsenal,com, he highlights that linesman was giving it.
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on the lacca goal being ruled out, two things, one how could Taylor mistake a goalkeepers glove for Lacazette’s hand, and also if he deemed Lacca to handle it, then he had to book him, which he didn’t.
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Arsenal Academy
Verified account @ArsenalAcademy
2h2 hours ago
2008 to 2019 ⏭
@ZakSwanson_3 👏
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Both Zak Swanson and Mark McGuinness have signed their first pro deals with Arsenal
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no results went our way tonight
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Watched that breakdown piece now. Interesting. Thanks for heads up.
Can’t see any suggestion linesman had any input and Taylor’s view definitely seems obscured so, yep, dodgy.
Damn it makes me nervous about these away matches, knowing chances so remote of favours (while that’s always distinct possibility for some) and that instead we have to overcome a lot of small, fair bit of medium and any killer big stuff.
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Noticed highlights of that u18 game against Spurs not up yet, even though normally they’ve been going up quickly these days.
Wouldn’t surprise me if you need opposition permission to show highlights and Spurs have been Spursy about it.
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rich the highlights are up on the club’s facebook page, I watched it yesterday
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I can’t find it Eddy
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Couldn’t link to the latest Arsenal Column article but his post articulates what i was attempting to say on Ozil and Rambo linking the squad cycles.
That he quotes Emery’s understanding of this obvious fact only slightly undermines Billy Big Blagger who is still clinging on to his toxic content from the Winter. Heh the poor lambs. Jabba Sanlehhi likes a lamb, preferably in one gulp…
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George it was posted at 11.38 on the Arsenal facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Arsenal/?eid=ARACG1S1DBVQpwel3mzg5IKnk7uT6fLDxsPCLRUw_VscWongeEk05e0I7wGFUvr8fmr5T1-PSqINUMVX
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a question on the youth game v spurs, did the ref make a major blunder when sending off the spurs lad before half time, I’m not suggesting that he should not have been sent off, as the highlights do not show it clearly, but the foul he committed to get sent off happened in the penalty area, it was at a corner, yes the ball had gone out of the area, but was still in play, so should there not have been a penalty award to Arsenal.
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Probably, a bit like the AFC advantage rules
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