Arsenal host West Ham United at the Emirates in a Premier League clash this afternoon; with both sides needing three points for wholly different reasons.
The Gunners, of course, are five points off fifth-placed Man United with a game in hand, while the Hammers are just above the drop zone on goal difference.
Since the turn of the year Arsenal lost just one of their 12 matches in all competitions. However, that one defeat sticks out like a sore thumb because it resulted in us getting knocked out of the Europa and along with it perhaps our best route into next season’s Champions League. Now with 11 league games to go Mikel Arteta knows that he has to prioritise if we are to edge closer to the European qualifying spots.
Be that is it may, there’s still much to be done but there are also lots to be excited about; particularly if you look at the attention to long-term development with a number of our young’uns now proper first-team players. This gives one real anticipation of what’s to come during Arteta’s reign.
We go into this game on the back of a 2-0 win at Portsmouth to advance to the FA Cup last-eight. Arteta made nine changes to play a Pompey side that hasn’t lost at their own patch all season, and the performance the boys put has helped a lot to ease most of the trauma suffered from the loss vs Olympiakos. It also keep hope alive for the Spaniard to win silverware in his maiden season. That is something no doubt at the back of his mind…however, at the forefront will be the three points on offer this afternoon.
David Moyes’ West Ham side are 16th on the table, but with just two points above 19th-placed Aston Villa are in a real bind.
They have lost each of their last five away matches and won just three on the road all season. With games against Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea following today’s, they could be in a real spot of bother as far as the battle for survival is concerned.
It’s not like they’re gutless though. A fortnight ago they put in a plucky display against Liverpool at Anfield; was leading 2-1 with 20 or so minutes to go, but just couldn’t hold on as the Reds scored the winning goal in the last 10 minutes. They followed that up with a more controlled performance at home to Southampton to run out 3-1 winners – their first win since New Year’s Day. And it’s on the back of that they’re coming to the Emirates.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven league matches at home and have beaten the Hammers in eight of their previous nine league encounters. So whether that win against the Saints will give Moyes’ side enough of a bounce will be telling this afternoon.
Team news
Arsenal’s win at Pompey came at a cost of Lucas Torreira suffering a fractured ankle; meaning he is not expected back anytime soon.
Kieran Tierney is back fit and will be assessed ahead the match.
January loan-signing Pablo Mari was imposing at Fratton Park and could be handed his first league start.
Prediction
West Ham’s result last weekend brought some welcome-relief for the London Stadium faithful but it’s on their travels they’re suffering. And while they may give Arsenal a good run for their money today, I just can’t see them doing enough to put an end to the Gunners’ unbeaten league run in 2020.
- @LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
Steel plates in broken limbs with blind Twatkinson and the VAR boys in town
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Thanks Labo. Hopefully our massed attacking options will see us through in this one, but expecting a tough game, they do have some decent players, can be dangerous attacking, though defensively, they are not the best.
We need to negate the influence of the PGMOL early in in this game, a three nil lead should hopefully do, pretty clear to me, if not some of the main bloggers that Riley, by his own accord, or by instruction is trying to ensure others make the top placings.
With this ref, just hope our players come through this game unscathed , Atkinson plus Cresswell, assuming he is playing , is not a good option
If Atkinson tries any tricks, hope the crowd really let him have it, and hope the board take note and question why it is we are almost exclusively given 3-4 refs out of 21 including refs who seem to have a problem with this club, and conspicuously fail to protect its assets, time and time again
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If Guendouzi plays today from the start he will be red-carded: whether it is for an innocuous foul and then a slight shirt-pull or the other way round, Atkinson will do him on Deano’s say so.
And the Irons have a few robust lads who will be only too willing to do their manager’s bidding as Moyes tells them to get in the Arsenal faces.
I can’t see the afternoon playing out well for us, I’m afraid.
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The hammers have been improving true but so have we. I too think this will be a tough one and close but last time we beat them three-one here wee were awful so football wise we should expect a better game.
Since Mikels arrival we have been clicking in patches and it would be really nice to see a full 90 minutes of free flowing Artetaball without being kicked off the park.
I cant see this being a game which Keiran will return Mari maybe and it will be interesting to see how Mikel manages Pepe after his lack of end product in europe.
On the right Hector looked like he’d run out of steam so maybe Ainsley will come in for a game although not if Mari starts because no manager likes changing more of the back four than he needs to at any one time. Xhaka/Cellbalos will probably be the midfield axis although they may need an extra player with them to win the midfield battle before we unleash our forward line upon the hammers.
Win our next 14 games on the trot and we will have a great end to the season, we will obviously need steady improvement game by game starting with today COYG.
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Gwen is a conundrum. Yes, he is a risk up against Atkinson, he will react to any WHam shithousery and most likely pay the price.
And more importantly Arteta seems to have genuine reservations about him.
Guessing he will play Xhaka, Danny C and one other, I would give AMN a go, but another who seems out of favour, I suspect if he does go that formation, and doesn’t play Gwen, willock will get the nod.
This is classic example of a game where we could really do with a Wengeresque Three goal blitz , as difficult as that is , only recently seen against Newcastle
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Nice preview Labo. I reckon Mari will get nod today, especially if their big lad Haller has got back into starting 11 recently. Young French defender they have also huge danger at set pieces.
It’s Moyes, so he will look to ‘get in our faces’ and all the rest; it’s Atkinson, so he will look to help them out by letting stuff go from them and giving soft free kicks in our defensive third. Fingers crossed we can avoid three games in a row where players pick up a big injury.
Plenty of interesting calls for us. Laca or Eddie a big one and even think he might go for Reiss again. Expect Bellerin returns but not totally sure about it. Could stick with Sokratis or even put Mustafi there.
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Not to mention their special interpritation of advantage and time wasting etc etc etc
Granit 90% + as likely to get shafted with a red as Guen
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There’s any number of things in Atkinsons armoury unfortunately
I would suggest an early yellow for very little to a key defensive player is another favourite
Just read one blog suggesting we get this treatment from refs because of the wide perception our team are soft, which leaks into the refs subconscious. I am sure this may happen, but it doesn’t explain it all, nor the hugely preferential treatment Utd and Liverpool, first among others receive.
I know some of his data and conclusions are plain wrong or at least tainted, and many can put forward very eloquent reasons to be very wary trusting him but I get this awful feeling Football is fixed are at the very least somewhere on the right lines if not the whole truth, if a little pompous, hype ridden and agenda driven with it. What I have seen this season with VAR, ref distributions, Mike Riley seemingly out of control and unaccountable, Liverpool, Arsenal, utds penalties, even FIFA now going for agents, along with the Portuguese authorities it seems provides no reassurance. Over to you Arsene , if you have been given sufficient power to match your integrity that is.
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Mandy the notion that we get this treatment cos refs have let the idea AFC players are soft is total bullshit, as there is no way that after all the reviews they do of each and every game not only individually but with their assessor and then as PGMOL groups, could they not see their mistakes. It to me is clear that Mike Riley just does not like Arsenal, and he is the head chef and bottle washer at the PGMOL and his minions know, from years of viewing it first hand, that those Refs who continue to Game Manage Arsenal the way Riley did when he was a Ref, get on in the English game, they know they will be given the big games by Riley, they know they will not get in any trouble no matter what they do against Arsenal. What is the reward for Dean, Atkinson, Moss etc screwing over Arsenal, yes more games in charge of Arsenal.
We not only have this season had 2 or 3 refs take charge of a large swath of our games, but they have also, when not been our Game Manager, been either 4th official or in charge of VAR, it really don’t make any sense if things are above board.
And seeing as I mention them being 4th official, we still have the scenario that we get way more regular than any other EPL side, a 4th official who takes charge of our next EPL game. You can see how this can effect a Game Managers way of dealing with AFC, he has been 4th official having to deal with the ire of our coaching staff and close by fans one week, to then be in the position to get his own back the next week.
The PGMOL is rotten to the core.
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Afternoon guys, ladies.
I like what I saw about Mari the other night and drafting him in to replace, say, David Luiz wouldn’t take away anything in terms of leadership. I would love seeing him in partnership with Mustafi, whom I have always view as a class act. Those who criticize him, or any player for that matter, on performances during Emery’s reign need their heads tonked.
Mandy… I agree with Eddie in saying that this perception that we are “soft” is just a soundbite.
Especially if you look at the so-called tough teams likes of Liverpool, Manutd and Spurs whose players usually threw themselves to the ground at the faintest of touches and writhing in “pain”.
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PGMOL rotten to the core , I cannot argue with that, and quite possibly criminal, I am sure there is personal as well as professional gain somewhere at some level.
As for Riley he may well dislike arsenal, after all these years, for reasons unfathomable to my tiny mind at least , but I also see him as a very weak , yes man, I believe anything he does is to instruction from someone above him, and that is the one and only reason he is in post. Who is instructing him is where things might get interesting, Scudamore, the media, the brand , certain clubs, illegal, or legal bookies, agents or even more unpleasant entities ,or some unholy alliance of a few of the above. But when it all comes down, and one day i believe it will as it has elsewhere, whatever his role, imagine the likes of Riley will be the fall guys to protect others
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Another excellent scene-setter – consistently consistent, thanks.
Still very optimistic about reaching top four, mainly on account of the relative weaknesses of the leading pack, Liverpool aside. It’s a challenging run-in but we are not so easy to beat these days. It’s wide open, in my opinion.
COYG’S.
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COYG!!!
I’d start Guendouzi. He’s showedgreater discipline lately and needs to continue learning.
I’d also play Lacazette instead of Eddie for this one. Less about running their CBs than turning on them.
Keeping Antonio at bay might require tiring him out so Özil, Ceballos and Granit need to dictate tempo efficiently.
I see a 2-1 or 3-2. A headed CB goal from corners for both sides.
We tend not to lose to Moyes.
COYG!!!
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Neat illustration in Pool game how they have lowest yellow cards this year- 26- to our, highest, 62.
Mane decides to try catch one going over his head for a throw; Gomez with their specialist push into advertising hoardings; Mane, who has become increasingly petulant, and almost caught out by it in Europe other day, hacks someone down for routine yellow as they run away from him. Ref does that thing each time of looking completely emotionless, ie nothing incidents and none are even close to bookable offences.
Our respective figures are pure nonsense.
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Mandy at 12:41pm
I’d say all these “Arsenal are just soft”, “Xhaka is a hot-head/ yellow card magnet” talking points, making excuses for the excessive tackles on our players while demanding no one breathes on those of sweetheart club are dogwhistles from pundits to Riley and co.
It’s so persistent and I find it quite annoying that our former players, esp Ian Wright and Keown, have fall in line spreading that BS.
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Arsenal: Leno, Sokratis, David Luiz, Pablo Mari, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Ozil, Pepe, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Guendouzi, Willock, Nelson, Martinelli, Lacazaette
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WEST HAM Team to play Arsenal:
Fabianski, Ngakia, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio, Haller.
Subs: Randolph, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Anderson, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Soucek
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Shkodran misses today’s game due to a thigh issue
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COYG
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Thank you all for the brilliant comments above.
I hope Moyes’ plan is not to simply rely on the bias of the pgMOB. I wonder if he’ll send Antonio to run up against Xhaka, probably not to begin with. After a rest I expect a good game from Xhaka. Unfortunately Luiz not able to rotate with Mustafi today, hope he’s not too fatigued.
Huge game for Ceballos.
COYG.
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Thank you all for the brilliant comments above.
I hope Moyes’ plan is not to simply rely on the bias of the pgMOB.
Will he send Antonio to run up against Xhaka, probably not to begin with. After a rest I expect a good game from Xhaka. Unfortunately Luiz not able to rotate with Mustafi today, hope he’s not too fatigued.
Huge game for Ceballos.
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anyone got a good stream for the game
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Best chances for the visitors so far, they really should’ve scored there.
But a great chance for the Gunners now.
Ozil with the shot!
The Hammers are trying to close off Saka but the spaces are still there for him and Auba in that inside left channel if their teammates can find them.
Lack of pace in the back two without Mustafi is a little scary.
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Try a search for soccerstreamsdotnet
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So close from Papa off the bar after good play following a corner. Auba with a lovely cross.
soccer streams dot net
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Oh look they’ve screwed us with VAR again
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hT: Arsenal 0-0 West HAm
not been a good half of football, lots of huff and puff but little quality
Aubameyang and Nketiah not in the game enough, Antonio causing us problems
Nketiah convinced he should have had a penalty in stoppage time
Rice getting away with a lot of fouls
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Need to seriously improve on that
Oh for Giroud with those corners
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https://twitter.com/i/status/1236318104176799749
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Has to stand
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good
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lacazetteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee slots home from an ozil headed assist, VAR gave it after lineswomen raised her flag
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It really didn’t need that long tbh
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just seen the VAR replay of the goal, and ozil was onside and he played the ball backwards to lacca to score, so rightly stands
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5 minutes of stoppage time called
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FT: Arsenal 1-0 West Ham
Lacazette with our winner, from an ozil assist
we dominated possession, 70% but WHU had far more efforts on goal, and many more on target, our play was slow, filled with lots of poor passing, and too much individual play, but a win is a win is a win
we are now level on 40pts with spurs, and sit 5pts off top 4
sheffield utd won but wolves drew, and we can hope man city take pts off man utd tomorrow
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Never in doubt.
1-0 to The Arsenal.
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Haha, surprised Fabianski didn’t come up at for that FK. Classic Moyes, trying to protect the 0-1 defeat.
We were a bit dodgy across the board, apart from Leno, the two full-backs and Ozil once the space opened up – great thinking for the goal. I like Pablo Marí’s passing range, Pepe’s going to score a ridiculous solo goal at some point and Dani Ceballos has a decent defensive brain (even if he could be a bit braver advancing the ball, considering his ability). Hope that builds confidence, especially in Aubameyang as nothing came off for him today.
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Well fought today. Not at all a comfortable watch but hey ho that’s life as an Gooner.
Ceballos has another good game.
VAR so frustrating again as a supporter, you really ruin the game with such forensic examination of offside.
We do need to start pushing forward at speed far too much backward sideways passing, shades of the end of Wenger reign.
Three points though to celebrate before we enter a European week without football a whole new unwanted experience.
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VAR Is fine.
Not sure the CLOWNs who just broadcast their incompetence all over the world are that great, but then what would you expect from such a bunch of CLOWNs?
As Shotta wrote on his blog last season we all know what is going n on here. How can you take an extra season to implement a system that is not just ridiculed but leads to English officials being actually relegated from the top level. Because they are CLOWNs.
COYG.
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Not pretty, or especially effective for much of the game, but a vital three points, that will do
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Could’ve been a much tougher game if the Hammers had snagged one of their early good chances.
Pepe may score a good solo goal in his career, if he has better luck then Walcott with injuries perhaps he’ll score more then Theo.
The man who sanctioned £72M on Pepe needs to be dragged into the street in front of a baying mob including aftv, various blaggers etc all chanting:
“Shame, shame, shame…”
Which would be a complete 180 on what he’s been paying them to say to date (“ozil and Ramsey can’t play together” and other legendary and hilarious quotes are available for reference guidance, and a good chuckle too)
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Ceballos had a good game IMO.
All the midfielders playing better under Arteta, alongside everyone else but it’s in CM you can feel the difference.
Huge blow to loose LT as he had looked so good under Arteta and a rotation with Ceballos, Home/Away or League/Cup between the two was a certain plan. Opportunity knocks for another player in the squad.
I have to hold back on the praise for Saka but clearly he is simply a better footballer then Raul’s man. And so is Nelson. And so is…
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Didn’t watch but went through tension of regular updates. Really pleased to get the win.
Relaxing now as you do on Sat with 3 points in bag. Looks promising for Spuds keeping the good times going.
Pretty odd seeing Dier out there. Just can’t imagine if Luiz had been in crowd midweek he’d have received universal support and be lining up again days later, and without comms mentioning it since I tuned in.
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Don’t watch Burnley much but Mcneil standing out more and more when do. Not sure he’s long for that parish.
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can’t believe that some afc fans are actually complaining that Ozil set up lacca for the winning goal, instead of trying the header himself. Actually on reflection, I can believe it, as we have an awful lot of idiots in the fan base.
on ceballos, he had an ok game for me, not near as good as it could have been, his passing was off, and he took way too long to make the pass, he could do with watching a few ozil videos. Pepe has a similar problem, he clearly thinks taking as many touches of the ball as he can is the best way to play the game.
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Every word Mikel Arteta just said on VAR, Alexandre Lacazette, Pablo Mari, Moyes and West Ham
The full transcript of Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference following the Gunners’ 1-0 win over West Ham
Were you fortunate to win or was it hard work?
“I don’t believe a lot in fortune. We had the moments of luck that we needed but as well it was because we had some really good individual performances at the back. Sometimes to clear the ball, sometimes to make a save. I’m really happy with the result because big teams find a way. When they don’t have the best day – which is obvious that it wasn’t our best day in terms of performance – they find a way to win it and you can build from there and learn and take the positives and the negatives in a much better way. But the unity, solidarity and desire of the players are showing, at the end it pays a price, it didn’t pay a price a few days ago against Olympiacos here but it did today and football is like this.”
What were you thinking during the VAR check?
“When the goal was disallowed I though ‘Okay, that’s fine’ then my staff came from the bench and said it’s a goal but then it dragged for two-three minutes and then I wasn’t very positive about the outcome. So, I’m very pleased with VAR tonight!”
Struggled to get into top gear in the first half again…
“We had moments. Obviously in the first half when teams are so compact, defending with that deep block and we gave a lot of simple balls away in dangerous areas where we allowed the opposition to generate transition moments which they are good at. After that it was a free kick and a corner so we struggled a little bit to find our flow. When we did, in the final third I think we lacked the final pass, the right pass and as well the desire to be more aggressive and finish more actions in the final third.”
Unbeaten in 2020. Are you turning the corner?
“Turning the corner in terms of results, a little bit in terms of the things I want to see from my team. They (didn’t specify who) were telling me now that I turned the ship around, that ship still has to turn a few times more to see what we want to see but it’s part of the process. It doesn’t happen over night, there are a lot of positives we can take from the eight or nine weeks that we’ve been here but it will be down to the performances we put in and related to the results.”
Why didn’t Lacazette start?
“I have two strikers at the moment that are making life difficult for me but at the same time it’s very good. They are both scoring, they are both in a good moment. I decided to play Eddie today for the type of defenders they had and the game plan we had but knowing that we needed Laca in the final moments (and) he was ready to do that. I saw it straight away the moment I was talking with him, giving him instructions on the touchline, he was alert, focused and I could see in his face he was really determined to come out there and score the goal like he did.”
Do you not see Aubameyang or Martinelli as central strikers?
“They are but with the squad balance we have at the moment to play on that position on the left we don’t have five players because we’re using one of them to play as a left-back who is not a left-back. So we’re just trying to adapt to the situation we have. Today try to put in the team, players that have a goal threat that can be successful for the team and that’s part of managing the players that we have.”
How was it to manage against Moyes?
“How much I respect and admire that I had seven magnificent years next to him. I learned a lot about him, he’s a man with incredible values and with a great work ethic. He showed today with the game plan he put in the type of manager he is.
“It was awkward because I started this adventure in England with him, as a manager he was the one who showed the faith to bring me to the Premier League and I’m very grateful for him.”
Pablo Mari. Two games, two clean sheets, you just have to keep playing him don’t you?
“(laughs) Good point, I’ll take your advice then. If it’s as simple as that hopefully he’ll do it again at Manchester City and he’ll get a clean sheet. But no he’s doing well, he’s adapting really well. It’s not an easy league and the central defender in my opinion to play in the Premier League is one of the toughest positions to play for any foreign players. But he’s very willing, he’s learning and has a very good experience and understanding with his teammates.”
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Gosh. Short memory that I have I’d forgotten that Arteta was a Moyes man.
Well even if it wasn’t a vintage performance it was certainly a vintage scoreline and a more than useful three points, which will do very nicely thank you very much.
Closing in on the lot from up the road now, who either won a point or dropped two depending on your perspective.
St. Totteringham’s day maybe a date again this year, and how nice that would be with the special one in charge.
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did anyone else get the feeling when VAR took an age to confirm the goal, that they were trying their best to find someway to disallow the goal
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