Podcast: Personal stories and family recollections by Stephen Mills, a 3-generation Gooner, provide history lessons from 94 years of Arsenal Football Club. According to Mills there were difficult and glorious years but to quote him “It was fantastic to be an Arsenal fan.”
This is the audio version of the Uncensored Arsenal YouTube livestream of July 24th. For a full broadcast link the channel at YouTube_Uncensored Arsenal
Positively Arsenal 
Great stuff from Mills there, who inadvertently lets slip that he has a true fanatic’s blinkered vision. He can’t tell the story about going to a game on the same day as the Hillsborough tragedy without also slipping in the Arsenal goalscorer!
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…I suddenly realised that I think I said Brian McDermott and it was actually Brian Marwood, (classic unreliable narrator!) and it was one -nil not 2-1-althoguh I would swear it was.Bloody memory!
I saw the game the year before too, and that was def 2-1 to the Gunners. Some games I can only remember what went on before and afterwards, those were more the GG years.
But Marwood give the Toon a lot of problems that day cutting in from the right hand side.One thing I will say was although I didnt stand directly centre on the NB( I never though I was cool/good enough etc) that I did sit on the new all seater NB later, but it was a bit dead, and sort of cold compared to that which I’d seen or heard in the past. But at least the bogs didnt stink. The “red army” chants always sounded like “salami, salami”.
The central north bank boys gave the Liverpool fans a lot of stick before they really knew what was going on, I think they thought it was just more trouble from Merseyside. I also recall them giving the Newcastle fans loads of poop: “your going down with the West Ham”, and that stuck in my head as a phrase that I still use today.
That game stayed in my (bad) memory not only because of the horrors of Hillsborough ( I knew some people who were there, who lived, but came back mashed, and a friend of mine later lived on the same row as the guy who lost his daughters, I have no idea how he carried on living for sure) as a few of us took a friend to his first game, he got quite into it, he’d busted his arm a week before and I can still see the horrible(imo) Highbury chips in one of those polystyrene eco friendly cups tucked in his sling. He died really young so all the memories are quite precious, A unique guy.
Thanks to Shotts, George and Wengerullah, and to Tim. Wished I could have done better!
I realise my anecdotes and experiences are probably a bit mediocre,and whats precious and interesting to me of course may certainly not be to others. I hope it wasnt too boring! And as I said at the end, Im neither the biggest or most loyal or most committed supporter. But I still love the Arsenal, even if sometimes I think the only thing thats the same is the old clock from the clock end.But thats life, and its perhaps ok too, new people having new experiences and whose to say how it affects them, I only hope they get the same kick out of it I did, and can enjoy things even when it wasnt so hot. And I do stick by what I said which was this: every Arsenal fan ( love or loathe,agree with them or not them) is part of the story of Arsenal, not matter the geographical location or depth of relationship.Everyone has a unique experience through various lenses that add to the history of it all.
One thing I got from it all, aside of being going back to years half forgotten, was how Arsenal weaves its way into your lifes experiences, connecting all, triggering events and creting situations, and that seemd fascinating, as Im sure they are in your own lives?
I did see some bad scenes, but mostly Im a chicken and love football rather than having a scrap( also because I would lose!). Going to games always got me entranced by the atmosphere, and a lot of the time I would be studying the crowd, to me seeing the game live always seems so unreal compared to watching endless games on tv. Of course as anyone who was alive then remembers, there wasnt much,, MOTD, and the BM and Radio 2. World service listeners( I became on later which was funny experience) only got the second half or so. Today we are flooded with every detail and it seems a bit overwhelming and perhaps that dulls the appetite?
Im sure many of you guys have much more interesting stories, and clearer memories than mine and I hope you share some.
COYG!
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Mainly for Mills, but offered freely to one and all. I’m reding an extraordinary novel at the moment, Paul Auster’s 4321. Not an examination of a footballing formation (though it sounds a bit defensive to me) but rather the different turns a life might take. 4 versions of each period of the central character’s C20th American life. There’s a fair bit of Baseball in there, which i don’t understand so well. Is there an easy guide to understanding the ins and outs of that game?
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I’ll do my best, although even after staring 30years ago theres still aspects Im not sure of. And I have a poor historical understanding from 1963-1990, so maybe someone can fill you in on that. Really I got interested in the 90s.
To get a bit of background there an excellent documentary called the “Ghosts of Flatbush”, which depicts the history of the the Brooklyn Dodgers, until they left Brooklyn and went to Los Angeles (something still not forgiven!). I found it kind of fascinating, but sad too. It goes well into the signing of Jackie Robinson (also check out the old jump r+b song ” did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?” by Buddy Johnson), who was the first Black player to play in MLB. Its a tough but uplifting story, and Jackie is a massive hero for anyone getting poop in their life, but for African American he must be one heck of a hero. His wife Rachel, is still alive, a truly lovely person from what I see in her interviews, someone you would love to talk to.
Also theres a few docs on MLB, but also some great ones on what was called the Negro Leagues, basically the black players were segregated and werent allowed in white major league or minor leagues, and some of the players in those leagues said that Jackie wasnt even that great compared to some of the guys who played and we unseen by MLB. Its a sad story, but something that seems to have plagued the human race in all sorts of forms.
Also “A league of their own” the film, is worth a look, I like it personally and find the history of womans baseball intersting too, but its also sad and often forgotten. The womens leagues stepped in during the war years, and seemed to have been stopped shortly after the war( for what seems to have been sexism), but some of them are still alive and some guys go to the old grounds to have a look at what was on You Tube. The womens leagues we subjected to some potty sexists rules, but it produced some stars and very talented players and theres a wealth of interest should you go digging around in its past.
Basically it evolved from rounders, but is more sophisticated. Although I seem to remember it was called Baseball in Wales in the middle ages, but I could be wrong.
9 blokes on each side,( I cant remember how many in the squad but its a fair few) two leagues(American and National) split up into various sub leagues,no draws, you play nine innings ( top and bottoms, basically each having a chance) unless its still not sorted out and then they play on until its decided.I dont know what the longest ever was but Ive seen fifteen.
End of the season (Sept) they go into the post season when the sub leagues fight it out to then play the winners of the main leagues who then play each other in whats called the World Series.
The throws the ball within a certain area, ( so for example, my team Houston Astros had Greinke pitching and he through the ball and a player called Holt for the Texas Rangers said it was outside of the area, but the tv which always shows the area proved it wasnt, it got pretty hot under the collar) he will have various types, fastball, curve balls, sliders etc
Basically the pitcher and the batter fight it out, if the batsman misses it 3 times hes struck out. The aim to to belt it out of the playing area for a Home Run, but should a player hit the ball and the outfielders not catch it, he maybe(depending) be able to run to whatever base might be possible ( prob not more than first or second base). He can be caught out, tagged out. Of course better than a single homer, is when all three bases are loaded( attacking players) and then the next batsman belts it out for a homer, then its a grand slam.
The defensive team in an innings obviously can throw these guys out if the bases are loaded but doing a triple or double play which is the ball is hit out caught, thrown to a baseman before the batsman get there and then on the the next etc.
First game I ever saw ( Dodgers v Astros at the old Astro dome) had a triple play, I didnt have a clue what was going on as everyone went nuts. Later as I got to wacth the game more I understood why. Double plays are more common, and pretty exciting to watch.
Pitchers can be relieved at any time, and usually teams will have “closers” pitchers who are tough nuts who are put on to shut the opposite team down, say in the 8th more usually the 9th inning. One of Houstons best closers is a guy called Pressly, who looks like Bill Burr, Its great watch him.
Theres a great relationship between catcher and pitcher as they will signal in private codes to each other what kind of ball will be thrown. Obviously the catcher must catch the ball if possible, otherwise if its a ball the hitter can run to first base. The catcher also has the responsibility of tagging a hitter should he receive the ball and hes coming in from third base, all basement in such a situ have to have the foot on the base when tagging. Sometimes its funny as a hitter will get trapped between two bases and the basemen cant tagg him to it get bunged around until they can.
Theres been a big “scandal” about this (sign stealing), but if you research you will see it wasnt just the Astros, and the big franchaises were protected( the are big five billion dollar plus clubs): Yankees (massive history of cheating), Red Sox( cheats in the recent scandal too) and the Dodgers( also up to no good!). But cheating is part of the game, at the moment the pitcher are being scrutinised for taking pine tar and putting it on the balls to give it better, craftier spin. All teams cheat in some way or another. Its like footballers and professional fouls, ankle taps, grabbing at corners etc.
Theres a sophisticated system of bringing up young players and trading/transfer systems too ( also see the film Moneyball with Brad Pitt). Also lots of ranting biased Yankee fans who are supposed to be neutrals on the sports networks, which is a bore, unless you like the Yankees. I dont like them( the Yankees), amazing history though. Its worth checking out a docu on Babe Ruth if youre interested.
One great game I saw was Astros v STL and it was 0-0 right into the bottom of the 9th(a rare thing) and this older guy called Jeff Kent steps up( he was forced up by STL who made him walk) and the co-com was saying how Kent hated that but he couldnt hit it right, and Kent smashed it into the Crawford Boxes, we were out of our seats it was such a great moment, but you would have to have been there to have enjoyed it but it was a classic moment like 89 etc.
Heres a classic game:
I hope that covers it, (clear as mud?)best I can do! Grab a team and enjoy the ride! Theres highlights each day on YT provided by the MLB.
Got to get on, been ducking out ot do this and am in trouble (couldnt resist.
Cheers!
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Deyan Iliev has returned to SKF Sered for another season long loan. His contract reportedly expires next year so this would likely see his time at AFC over.
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Positively Uninformed. (Blackburn George)
@arseblagger
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17m
Maddison’s hip makes me favour Odegaard. That’s my in depth analysis of the situation.
eduardo1966
@edminton1966
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6m
Need an explanation of that. Has he an injury problem with his hip or is the problem that he is hip?
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Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
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Thanks Mills for that detailed explanation. Reall interesting and worth further study. One day maybe I’ll get to go to New York and see a game.
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well we are going to see one hell of a lot of transfer business in the next 33 or so days, that is if Arteta is to get the players in and out that he wants, if the journos who get fed PR by the club are to be believed.
we are told that Arteta wants
Goalkeeper
Right Back
CB – White expected to be announced this week
CM – maybe even two
ACM
Striker
and maybe even a wide left player
also that Arteta wants rid of
Runarrson (seemingly a deal fell through today)
Bellerin
Kolasinac
Xhaka
AMN
Torreira
Willock
Nelson
Willian
Lacazette
Nketiah
so to sum up six or seven more signings and 11 sales or loans, so if all get done it would average out at more than a deal every two days. The season starts Friday two weeks, we have a few pre season games before that too if we can fit them in with all this transfer business. Trust the process, Don Edu, etc etc etc
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Arsenal U23’s currently losing 3-1 v Bromley,
Arsenal U23 team v Bromley: Ejeheri, Osei-Tutu, Kirk, Rekik, Jeffcott, Patino, Sagoe Jr, Bandeira, Edwards, Hutchinson, Richards.
was 3-0 but sub Cozier-Duberry has got one back for us
some of the subs brought on are Bradley Ibrahim on for his U23s debut. Ogungbo, Graczyk, Cozier-Dubbery, Henry Timi Davis, Salah, Cottrell, Foran, Richards and Monlouis
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Thank you Mills & all on the pod.
Looking forward to the book.
With low expectations for the season ahead I’m optimistic heh. Ignoring the continuously unpleasant waft from those running the pitch it’s possible to focus on some footy and the talk about what kind of players should play in central midfield. Generally I think think it’s fair to say the attacking coaches play a 6 with an 8 and the more defensive coaches set up with two 6’s.
One reason we saw such good football over that period Mills describes is the number of high performing combinations in central midfield.
Benitez won many props for his midfields at Liverpool, Deschamps was playing Kante & Pogba and excelling till he panicked in the recent tournament even defensive coaches can play with flair in midfield…as for the club’s anointed heir.
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Correction above sorry: club not pitch.
As for Arteta?
I’d rather not speculate on what’ll happen on the pitch if the best midfielder goes but if it happens and it could be as George is calling it then Audio without Visual might be the way forward next season. Is that progress?
If fans are allowed back in the ground Arteta’s fate may shadow what happened to Emery after similar idiocy but conditions will still be different. Then again the hooliganism at Wembley may be a forerunner of what’s to come this season? Hehe yikes!
I hope Saka scores a fair few Away goals this season.
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Arsenal played Watford today at London Colney, game is as live on Arsenal.com
Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Mari, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Nelson, Willian, Nketiah, Aubameyang
Nketiah gave us the lead, watford drew level when Elneny lost possession in our area trying to play out from the back.
at half time we brought on
Runnarsson, Bellerin, Holding, Tierney, Partey, Lacazette and Pepe
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at 63 minutes we brought on Smith-rowe, Azeez, Kolasinac and AMN
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Lacazette scored a 69th minute penalty after Azeez was fouled
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76th minute Tierney made it 3-1
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near the end Azeez curled in a delightful goal from the right edge of the area, top left corner
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Ross County target young Arsenal defender as Malky Mackay’s Dingwall squad shapes up for the Premiership campaign
By Alasdair Fraser – alasdair.fraser@hnmedia.co.uk
Published: 22:30, 28 July 2021
Get the Inverness Courier sent to your inbox every week and swipe through an exact replica of the day’s newspaper
Ross County manager Malky Mackay during the home clash with Montrose. Picture – Ken Macpherson.
Ross County manager Malky Mackay during the home clash with Montrose. Picture – Ken Macpherson.
Ross County are hoping to complete the loan signing of Arsenal defender Harry Clarke early next week.
Staggies’ manager Malky Mackay is understood to be targeting the 20-year-old for a season-long stint in the Highlands.
Talks with the English Premier League giants are ongoing and Mackay is vowing to use extensive contacts south of the border to strengthen a County squad that saw 15 summer departures.
So far, the former Cardiff City boss and Scotland performance director has brought in only three permanent signings – midfielders Ross Callachan (Hamilton) and David Cancola (Slovan Liberec), and striker Dom Samuel (Gillingham).
He has also landed Manchester City kid Alex Robertson and Southampton left-back Jake Vokins on loan.
Clarke started out in Ipswich Town’s youth system, but switched to the Gunners in 2015.
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Tyreece John-Jules has joined Blackpool on a season loan
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Eduardo: I think on the last post you posted a team that you said was the team that Arteta wanted, and if I recall correctly it contained none of Pepe, Lacazette or Auba. What was your thinking (or indeed Arteta’s) behind the team – and how likely do you think it?
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I have always thought Mikel regards Pepe as one of his favourites and if anything has overplayed him even when his form has been poor, that is certainly the case with Auba.
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I think all of the regulars on this blog know my views about Arteta and his abilities.
I am considering keeping my mouth shut for the next few months to see how things develop. so my final word will be this.
To bring in large numbers of new players into a club at the same time, mostly from abroad, is sheer lunacy.
If a manager is unable to coach 11 or more players, some of which are seasoned internationals and thinks that he can bring in 5 to 7 new players and bond them into a successful team, then in my honest opinion he has even more powerful rose-tinted glasses than many of the fans.
Take care everyone and keep well and safe
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Good points JJG but I wonder how many new players we’ll actually sign. I wouldn’t be that surprised if Odegaard returns and Xhaka stays. So to quote the one and only they’ll seem like new signings. We’ve got a back up for Tierney and we have a new midfielder who might play a bit but doubt is a starter if Xhaka stays. The only big change I can see is maybe a new forward and Lacazette leaving. But who really knows what the plans are. Or whether there are any plans at all.
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So to follow on from that logic, it sounds as if Bellerin might be wanting to leave, and Arteta is relatively happy for Chambers to be first choice right wing back. So that leaves Soares as back up, so more or less the status quo there.
So unless I am guilty of underestimating the new found ambition of the owner I am expecting much the same for next season.
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foreverheady this is what I posted
the team Arteta wants, and might get
Ramsdale
Chambers White Holding Tierney
Partey Sambi
Saka Maddison ESR
Abrahams
and my thinking on it is that this is the sort of team Arteta wants, this is the type of players that Arteta sees as suiting the type of football he wants to play, players who will carry out his instructions, a physical defense if uninspiring, same with midfield, and a hard working attacking unit with a target man striker for the main tactic Arteta uses – crossing – both Tierney and Chambers would happily swing in crosses all day long to someone like Abrahams who is a good header of the ball.
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by the way foreverheady, reports tonight that not only will Xhaka be offered a new long term contract with a big pay rise, but so too will Bellerin. Maybe the stories about there being interest from other clubs in Cedric Soares is true.
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Ben White was not the only signing Arsenal announced today, we also signed 18 year old Mika Biereth for Fulham, he turned down a contract offer from the Cottagers to sign his first pro deal with Arsenal. He describes himself as an old style center forward. He scored 21 goals and had 13 assists in 21 games for Fulham’s U18’s last season as they won the league.
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the Sheffield Star claim Arsenal will submit a third offer shortly for Aaron Ramsdale. That could include an invitation for Sheffield United to select some of Arsenal’s most promising young players for loan moves
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ACL Soccer
@ACL_Soccer
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2h
Graham Rix has been appointed First team coach at Gosport Borough fc
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if Xhaka stays and we don’t sign a new star CM, then he will receive even more hate form the loud mouth fans, as it will be all his fault
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lots of reports this evening that Arsenal are set to appoint Keven Betsy as our new U23 manager, currently Betsy is England U18 manager.
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Richards scores; Sagoe Jr and Cozier-Duberry excel as Arsenal U18s beat Hendon
Pre-season friendly
Hendon 1 Arsenal U18s 3 (Richards, Sagoe Jr, Roberts)
By Jeorge Bird @Silver Jubilee Park
They weren’t able to maintain their momentum for the whole game, but there were some flashes of brilliance from Arsenal U18s in their 3-1 friendly success away to Hendon tonight, most of which were provided by Amario Cozier-Duberry.
It has been an excellent week for the youngster, who scored against Bromley for the U23s and then proceeded to produce an excellent display here which included a fine assist for Charles Sagoe Jr.
Amani Richards and substitute Mathaeus Roberts were also on the scoresheet as the U18s returned to pre-season action after a considerable break.
Coach Dan Micciche was without some of the more experienced players eligible to feature at this level such as Charlie Patino and Omari Hutchinson, who are set to be with the U23s against Ebbsfleet tomorrow.
However, he was still able to name a strong squad and Arsenal’s starting lineup contained much in the way of flair. There was also a notable inclusion on the bench as Billy Vigar returned from injury, although Luigi Gaspar, who is back in training, wasn’t quite ready to be selected. James Sweet and Kaleel Green were absent.
Mitchell
Foran-Robinson-Jeffcott
Quesada Thorn-Ibrahim-Ismail-Walters
Cozier Duberry-Sagoe Jr
Richards
Subs (all used): Kovacevic, Henry-Davies, Quamina, Roberts, Gower, Vigar.
Hendon, who fielded their senior team, had the first opportunity of the game with a header which went wide, but Arsenal seized control of proceedings thereafter.
It was the highly regarded Richards who put Arsenal in the ascendancy as he applied the finishing touch to a slick move.
Sagoe Jr was starting to really influence matters in midfield and he managed to get into a good position before shooting wide.
The 17-year-old made no such mistake with his next opportunity as he made it 2-0 with a fine finish. Sagoe Jr deserved much credit for the finish but in the buildup there was an outstanding piece of play from Cozier-Duberry as he managed to flick the ball past an opponent. Regular involvement with the U23s can’t be too far away for a player of such quality.
Arsenal were retaining possession well and caused some confusion for Hendon as wing-backs Reuell Walters and Elian Quesada-Thorn swapped sides midway through the first half.
Hendon started to make more of an impact as they struck the crossbar and Remy Mitchell was forced into a good stop, but Arsenal went into the break with their 2-0 lead intact.
As expected there were some changes at the interval, with Alex Kovacevic coming on for Mitchell in goal, while Henry Davies replaced Richards up front and Jimi Gower also entered the fray in place of Sagoe Jr.
Perhaps partly owing to those alterations, Arsenal struggled to repeat their dominance in the second period as Hendon started to pose more of an attacking threat themselves.
Taylor Foran, one of the players who remained on, had to make an important defensive intervention, with Kovacevic then making a save.
Hendon threatened again and Arsenal defender Josh Robinson was booked for a late challenge.
There was an alarming moment when Kovacevic rushed out of his goal unnecessarily in an attempt to clear the danger, but Hendon weren’t able to take advantage.
Despite Hendon being the better side for much of the second half, it was Arsenal who got the next goal, with Roberts finding the net in impressive fashion with a well-executed free-kick.
Quesada-Thorn, who had been brought back on as a substitute, had a shot saved as Arsenal sought a fourth goal.
Hendon eventually got the goal that they deserved with Arsenal ending up 3-1 winners.
Micciche may not have been too impressed with some elements of the second half performance as Arsenal frequently lost the ball in dangerous areas, but it does need to be taken into account that their pre-season plans were disrupted while they also learned some valuable lessons against experienced players.
There remain some concerns about the U18 team defensively but going forwards they are difficult to deal with, especially when Sagoe Jr and Cozier-Duberry combine so well.
Wing-backs Walters and Quesada-Thorn also gave good accounts of themselves and there are certainly some good options for Micciche to work with this season.
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our U23’s won their friendly v Ebbsfleet today 4-1, and an interesting aspect was that like the U18’s yesterday, they played a 3-4-2-1 formation. Is this signalling that this will be the club formation this season. If so we should likely see it v Chelsea tomorrow in our first team game
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our scorers for the U23’s were Swanson, Edwards, Cotrell and Azeez. And Hillson gave away and saved a penalty in the last minute of the game
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if we were to go to a 3-4-2-1 formation we could line up something like this, it might see us not need a no.10, not sure Aubameyang would suit this formation, as for me with lots of crosses coming in it might suit a target man striker way more
Leno
White Gabriel Mari
Chambers Partey Xhaka Tierney
Saka Smith-Rowe
Aubameyang
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Ed at 11:56
With this lineup we would probably finish below 6th next year.
Bad times to be an Arsenal supporter.
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Those formations are interesting, but don’t they get changed quite a lot during games, with players dropping in or dropping back according to who is in possession, and when in attack where the attack is coming from? And also assuming no in-game injury or red card scenarios, do players coming on (Pepe, Lacazette, Martinelli etc) change the formation?
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Gabriel proved he is error prone and has a lot to learn so I would imagine Bob would be in the middle of a three. Although I really like Mari I’m not sure Mikel does so maybe Keiran might even start on the left hand side of a three with our new left back playing the advanced position.
Also is Granite going to start if there is still a chance he will not be here when the window closes.
Saka will obviously be first choice but might not start the season and will Auba be first choice if we get a new striker in, and other positions also could be effected by new signings even ESR could be at risk knowing Mikel’s distrust of youngsters.
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Arsenal v Chelsea
Leno
Chambers, Holding, Mari, Tierney
Eleney, Partey
Pepe, ESR, Aubameyang
Lacazette
subs: runarrson, okonkwo, White, Bellerin, Cedric, Tavares, Kolasinac, AMN, Sambi, Xhaka, Nelson, Willian, Willock, Nketiah
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xhaka makes it 1-1 69 minutes
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we then make wholesale changes, bellerin, taveres, willock, sambi, nketiah and kolasinac all on,
xhaka had come on before half time for the injured Partey, and White came on for the second half for Holding
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awful blunder from Bellerin puts Abrahams in to put CFC in front again, 2-1. It was a poor pass from Hector straight to Abrahams who slotted home from edge of the area.
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aubameyang with an awful header from six yards out, we really do need a striker who can head the ball well
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willock just blasted the ball in off the bar and it came back out, but officials don’t give it, then they turn down another good penalty shout for us, new season nothing changes with these pgmol game managers
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aubameyang with a poor effort when put in on goal by nketiah
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FT: arsenal 1-2 chelsea
xhaka with our goal.
two bad defensive mistakes led to both of their goals, we made lots of unforced errors today.
must say the pgmol game mangers were as one eyed as ever, we had good shout for up to 3 penalties, and willock shot crossed the line but the goal not given, add to that the poor tackles by cfc that went unpunished.
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I wrote this several years ago after a pre-season friendly.
Except between them the linesman and referee manage to find a way to avoid making the right decision. Instead of the initial penalty awarded by the ref, the linesman’s intervention results in a mere free kick. The match ends in defeat and the spoils go to a Valencia side that few in the crowd have even heard of. The disappointment is tangible and the young fans drift away: some will return, many won’t.
I cannot think of any other major club in the world that would have its hospitality so cynically abused. And if, given all the peripheral reasons for ensuring that justice was done on the Sunday afternoon of an essentially meaningless Emirates Cup, the officials still choose to disadvantage the home side, what chance is there that a level playing field will exist when we travel to Manchester, to Liverpool, to West London to contest not friendlies but proper matches where points and prestige are at stake.
The mind quickly returns to the FA Cup Final, May 17th 2014. The Arsenal, rocked by two early Hull goals, slowly but surely gain a foothold in the match through the excellent Cazorla and go about securing their first trophy for several years. Referee Lee Probert, who once infamously sent Arsene Wenger to the stands for having the temerity to kick a plastic water bottle in frustration at yet another anti-Arsenal decision at Old Trafford, turns down three obvious penalty decisions in a show of breathtaking indifference to the actual rules of the game he has been chosen to oversee. This time his meddling makes no difference and an extra-time winner secures the spoils, but few would deny that Probert made it much harder for the victors to impose their obvious on-field superiority.
Penalties are game-changing moments and as such spotlight the referee’s competence, not just in applying the rules correctly, but also and perhaps more importantly, of having the courage to do so impartially, no matter what the situation, no matter how hostile the home crowd. They are real talking points, and it is no wonder that at times it is obviously easier to wave play on. However, while penalties clearly do affect results, they are not necessarily the most important decisions that referees are called upon to make. An early Yellow Card not given for a professional foul sets in motion a whole series of cynical assaults, all designed to break up the rhythm of the better side – playmakers are targeted for rotational fouling, so lax officiating not only amounts to a cheat’s charter but also threatens the skilled player’s entire career. Any team that plays a passing game does so to maneuver their opposition out of position before making the final and telling assist: little unpunished professional fouls allow the out-maneuvered time and space to regroup. The Arsenal are particularly vulnerable to this tactic, but, and this cannot be stressed too strongly, this tactic cannot work if the referee is doing his job properly. Every time you see the official keep his card in his pocket when a yellow should have been given you will know that he is, either intentionally or unintentionally, favoring the transgressor over the transgressed. Every time you read an opinion that suggests that The Arsenal have been contained or beaten by a manager that does tactics, ask yourself whether the referee has also played a part in those tactics.
And if you find that yes, in fact the ref has had an influence, then you might also begin to ask about the validity or the motive of that anti-Arsenal opinion.
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And I am also very able to accept that we were quite poor today and that a good season does not obviously beckon.
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Granit staying and Partey missing the start of the season may well be a blessing in disguise.
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Granit playing so well in the Euros and starting well in the PL means if he isn’t gone by the window close he will definitely have many suiters come the next one
So don’t be fooled Xhaka is not for life he is just till Christmas.
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