By Usama & Walter
Note: we have taken out the list with all the goal kicks, corners and throw ins to make the reviews better readable. From now on about these decisions we will only mention the wrong ones.
SWANSEA CITY vs. ARSENAL
- COMPETITION: English Premier League
- MATCH NO. 11
- DATE: 31st October 2015
- VENUE: Liberty Stadium (Swansea, Wales)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
| REFEREE: Kevin Friend | |
| 1st LINESMAN: Edward Smart | |
| 2nd LINESMAN: Harry Lennard | |
| 4th OFFICIAL: Andrew Davies |
First Half
Fouls, Advantages, Cards, and Penalties
| Time | Foul by | Foul For | Description & Decision | Points | |
| 03:37 | Jefferson Montero (Swansea) | Ozil tried to pass the ball to Campbell but Montero’s hand accidentally got in the way and blocked the pass. Montero’s hand was well away from the body. This should have been a foul for Arsenal.
NO FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
-1 (FOUL) | ||
| 10:15 | Kyle Naughton (Swansea) | Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) | Monreal passed the ball forward with his head just outside the Arsenal penalty area. At the same time Naughton raised his foot high and slightly contacted with the upper body on Monreal. Arsenal kept possession.
CORRECT ADVANTAGE PLAYED FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (ADVANTAGE)
|
|
| 13:38 | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) | Ozil was in control of the ball inside the Arsenal’s half and was pushed down from behind by Ki Sung-Yueng. This should have been a foul but was not given.
NO FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
-1 (FOUL) | |
| 16:51 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Giroud pushed and charged down Ki Sung-Yueng while chasing for the ball inside the Swansea’s half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (FOUL) | |
| 17:44 | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) | Push in the back by Ki Sung-Yueng on Ozil inside the Swansea’s half just after Ozil made a pass.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL) | |
| 19:03 | Kyle Naughton (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | Koscienly was in control of the continuing the attack when Naughton made a very late and reckless tackle from behind, causing Koscienly to fall down. The referee correctly gave a foul.
But this also should have been a yellow card against Naughton for reckless tackle and deliberate dispossession of the player. No yellow card was given against Naughton.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. NO YELLOW CARD AGAINST NAUGHTON. |
1 (FOUL)
-2 (YELLOW CARD) |
|
| 20:20 | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Trip from behind by Ayew on Sanchez inside the center of the field.
CORERECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 22:11 | Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | Push and pull by Sigurdsson on Koscienly inside the Arsenal’s half, causing Koscienly to lose his balance.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 24:27 | Federico Fernandez (Swansea) | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Late trip from behind by Fernandez on Sanchez inside the Arsenal’s half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 27:05 | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Joel Campbell (Arsenal) | Ki Sung-Yueng held and pulled down Campbell near the manager’s touchline.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 27:45 | Neil Taylor (Swansea) | Joel Campbell (Arsenal) | A push in the back by Taylor on Campbell inside the Swansea half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 29:54 | Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) | Jefferson Montero (Swansea) | Montero was running with the ball at high speed and was carrying on a promising attack for Swansea when Bellerin made a late tackle from behind just outside the Arsenal’s penalty area. The referee correctly gave a foul.
But this also should have been a yellow card against Bellerin for breaking up a promising attack by Swansea. No yellow card was given against Bellerin.
CORRECT FOUL FOR SWANSEA. NO YELLOW CARD AGAINST BELLERIN. |
1 (FOUL)
-2 (YELLOW CARD) |
|
| 31:20 | Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) | Sigurdsson took the direct free kick and Mertesacker who was inside the wall inside the penalty area raised his left hand up and away from the body and moved it towards the path of the ball, thus clearing the ball away with his hand. This was a case of deliberate handball inside the penalty area and should have been a yellow card against Mertesacker and a penalty for Swansea. But none of the decisions were awarded.
LAW 12 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT PAGE 121 Handling the Ball Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm. The referee must take the following into consideration: • The movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand) • The distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball) • The position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement • Touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.) counts as an infringement • Hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shinguard, etc.) counts as an infringement
Disciplinary sanctions There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour is required when a player deliberately handles the ball, e.g. when a player: • Deliberately handles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining possession • Attempts to score a goal by deliberately handling the ball
A player is sent off, however, if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball. This punishment arises not from the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but from the unacceptable and unfair intervention that prevented a goal being scored.
NO PENALTY FOR SWANSEA. NO YELLOW CARD AGAISNT MERTESACKER. |
-3 (PENALTY)
-2 (YELLOW CARD) |
||
| 36:46 | Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) | Kyle Naughton (Swansea) | Naughton and Monreal were challenging for the header. Naughton won the header and Monreal was late resulting in a jump in the back of Naughton causing him to fall down. This should have been a foul for Swansea but was not given.
NO FOUL FOR SWANSEA. |
-1 (FOUL) | |
| 43:41 | Jefferson Montero (Swansea) | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Montero tripped Giroud from behind inside the center of the field but Arsenal kept possession and moved forward.
CORRECT ADVANTAGE PLAYED FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (ADVANTAGE)
|
|
| 43:46 | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) | Coquelin was running forward with the ball inside the center of the field when Ayew slightly tripped him off balance. But Coquelin kept running.
CORRECT ADVANTAGE PLAYED FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (ADVANTAGE)
|
|
| Number of Correct Fouls for Arsenal – 7
Number of Correct Fouls for Swansea – 2 Total Number of Correct Fouls – 9 [9 points]
|
Number of Incorrect Fouls against Arsenal – 2
Number of Incorrect Fouls against Swansea – 1 Total Number of Incorrect Fouls – 3 [3 points]
|
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| Number of Correct Advantages for Arsenal – 3
Number of Correct Advantages for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Advantages – 3 [3 points]
|
Number of Incorrect Advantages against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Advantages against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Advantages – 0 |
||||
| Number of Correct Yellow Cards for Arsenal – 0
Number of Correct Yellow Cards for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Yellow Cards – 0 |
Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards against Arsenal – 1
Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards against Swansea – 2 Total Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards – 3 [6 points]
|
||||
| Number of Correct Penalties for Arsenal – 0
Number of Correct Penalties for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Penalties – 0
|
Number of Incorrect Penalties against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Penalties against Swansea – 1 Total Number of Incorrect Penalties – 1 [3 points] |
||||
Offsides
| Time | Player Offside | Defending Player | Description & Decision | Points | |
| 33:04 | Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | Gomis was in an offside position.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| 33:41 | Jefferson Montero (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | No replay or correct angle shown. Assumed correct.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| 35:58 | Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | No replay or correct angle shown. Assumed correct.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| 39:26 | Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | Gomis was in an offside position.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| Number of Correct Offsides for Arsenal – 4
Number of Correct Offsides for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Offsides – 4 [4 points] |
Number of Incorrect Offsides against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Offsides against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Offsides – 0 |
||||
Goals
| Time | Goal Scorer | Description & Decision | Points | |
Goal Kicks, Corners, and Throw-ins
| Time | Type | Last Touch OFF | Description & Decision |
| 13:59 | Corner | Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) | The ball last came off Hector Bellerin not Jefferson Montero.
NO CORNER FOR SWANSEA. |
| Number of Incorrect Corners against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Corners against Swansea – 1 Total Number of Incorrect Goals – 1 [1 points] |
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Other
| Time | Type | Description & Decision | Points |
First Half Referee Report
| Total Number of Correct Decisions for Arsenal – 7+3+4 = 14
Total Number of Correct Decisions for Swansea – 2 Total Number of Correct Decisions = 14 + 2 = 16
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Arsenal – 7+3+4 = 14 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Swansea – 2 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) = 14 + 2 = 16
|
| Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Arsenal – 2+1 = 3
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Swansea – 1+2+1+1 = 5 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions = 3 + 5 = 8
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Arsenal – 2+2 = 4 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Swansea – 1+4+3+1 = 9 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) = 4 + 9 = 13
|
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First Half Correct Decision Percentage = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 16/(16+8) = 66.6%
|
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First Half Correct Decision Percentage (WEIGHTED) = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 16/(16+13) = 55.1%
|
Second Half
Fouls, Advantages, Cards, and Penalties
| Time | Foul by | Foul For | Description & Decision | Points | |
| 52:48 | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Sanchez made an attempt for a tackle on Ayew, but Ayew kept running forward.
CORRECT ADVANTAGE PLAYED FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (ADVANTAGE) | |
| 53:36 | ???? (Arsenal) | Kyle Naughton (Swansea) | No live footage or replay was shown except for the referee calling for a foul. Assumed correct.
CORRECT FOUL FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (FOUL) | |
| 56:02 | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | While challenging for the header Ki Sung-Yueng pulled Giroud again and again. The referee correctly called the foul.
This was also Ki Sung-Yueng’s fourth foul of the game and was correctly yellow card for persistent fouling.
LAW 12 FOULS AND MISCONDUCT PAGE 127 Persistent Infringement Referees should be alert at all times to players who persistently infringe the Laws. In particular, they must be aware that, even if a player commits a number of different offences, he must still be cautioned for persistently infringing the Laws.
There is no specific number of infringements which constitutes “persistence” or the presence of a pattern – this is entirely a matter of judgement and must be determined in the context of effective game management.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. CORRECT YELLOW CARD AGAINST KI SUNG-YUENG. |
1 (FOUL)
2 (YELLOW CARD) |
|
| 58:51 | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea) | Shelvey lost his balance while trying to control inside the Arsenal’s half. Sanchez who was near saw the open ball and took control it when the referee called it a foul against Arsenal. This should not have been a foul against Arsenal because Shelvey lost his balance and was not fouled.
WRONG FOUL AGAINST ARSENAL. |
-1 (FOUL) | |
| 59:30 | Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Slight push in the back by Monreal on Ayew inside the Arsenal’s half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 60:57 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea) | Slight late collision by Giroud on Fabianski outside the Swansea’s penalty area, after Fabianski kicked the away.
CORRECT ADVANTAGE PLAYED FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (ADVANTAGE) | |
| 66:37 | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) | Trip by Ayew on Monreal just outside the Swansea’s penalty area.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 69:12 | Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea) | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Late trip from behind by Ki Sung-Yueng on Giroud inside the Arsenal’s half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 69:52 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Ashley Williams (Swansea) | Slight pulling and pushing by Giroud on Williams.
CORRECT FOUL FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 75:34 | Federico Fernandez (Swansea) | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Late trip from behind by Fernandez on Sanchez inside the Swansea’s half.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 87:24 | Leon Britton (Swansea) | Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) | Ozil was in control of the ball when Britton clearly pushed him in the back. This should have been a foul for Arsenal.
NO FOUL FOR ARSENAL. |
-1 (FOUL)
|
|
| 88:01 | Ashley Williams (Swansea) | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | Sanchez was running forward to receive the through pass continuing the promising attack from Arsenal, when Williams pulled him down from behind.
CORRECT FOUL FOR ARSENAL. CORRECT YELLOW CARD AGAISNT WILLIAMS. |
1 (FOUL)
2 (YELLOW CARD) |
|
| Number of Correct Fouls for Arsenal – 5
Number of Correct Fouls for Swansea – 3 Total Number of Correct Fouls – 8 [8 points]
|
Number of Incorrect Fouls against Arsenal – 2
Number of Incorrect Fouls against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Fouls – 2 [2 points] |
||||
| Number of Correct Advantages for Arsenal – 0
Number of Correct Advantages for Swansea – 2 Total Number of Correct Advantages – 2 [2 points]
|
Number of Incorrect Advantages against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Advantages against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Advantages – 0 |
||||
| Number of Correct Yellow Cards for Arsenal – 2
Number of Correct Yellow Cards for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Yellow Cards – 2 [4 points]
|
Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Yellow Cards – 0 |
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Offsides
| Time | Player Offside | Defending Player | Description & Decision | Points | |
| 54:26 | Andre Ayew (Swansea) | Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) | Ayew was in an offside position.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| 60:24 | Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) | Neil Taylor (Swansea) | Ozil was in an offside position.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR SWANSEA. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| 70:41 | Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | Gomis was in an offside position.
CORRECT OFFSIDE FOR ARSENAL. |
1 (OFFSIDE) | |
| Number of Correct Offsides for Arsenal – 2
Number of Correct Offsides for Swansea – 1 Total Number of Correct Offsides – 3 [3 points] |
Number of Incorrect Offsides against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Offsides against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Offsides – 0 |
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Goals
| Time | Goal Scorer | Description & Decision | Points | |
| 48:17 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) | Giroud scored a header from a corner.
CORRECT GOAL FOR ARSENAL. |
3 (GOAL) | |
| 67:47 | Laurent Koscienly (Arsenal) | The ball was in the air inside the Swansea’s penalty area with Koscienly standing and Fabianski behind him looking to jump over Koscienly and punch/catch the ball. Koscienly did not made any foul contact with Fabianski before, after and during Fabianski’s jump. Fabianski jumped and failed to catch the ball leaving Koscienly to score.
CORRECT GOAL FOR ARSENAL. |
3 (GOAL) | |
| 72:57 | Joel Campbell (Arsenal) | Campbell scored from a cross.
CORRECT GOAL FOR ARSENAL. |
3 (GOAL) | |
| Number of Correct Goals for Arsenal – 3
Number of Correct Goals for Swansea – 0 Total Number of Correct Goals – 3 [9 points] |
Number of Incorrect Goals against Arsenal – 0
Number of Incorrect Goals against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Goals – 0 |
|||
Goal Kicks, Corners, and Throw-ins
| Time | Type | Last Touch OFF | Description & Decision |
Other
| Time | Type | Description & Decision | Points |
Second Half Referee Report
| Total Number of Correct Decisions for Arsenal – 5+2+2+3 = 12
Total Number of Correct Decisions for Swansea – 3+2+1 = 6 Total Number of Correct Decisions = 12 + 6 = 18
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Arsenal – 5+4+2+9 = 20 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Swansea – 3+2+1 = 6 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) = 20 + 6 = 26
|
| Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Arsenal – 2
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions = 2 + 0 = 2
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Arsenal – 2 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Swansea – 0 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) = 2 + 0 = 2
|
|
Second Half Correct Decision Percentage = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 18/(18+2) = 90%
|
|
Second Half Correct Decision Percentage (WEIGHTED) = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 26/(26+2) = 92.8% |
Full Time (1st Half + 2nd Half) Referee Report
| Total Number of Correct Decisions for Arsenal – 14+12 = 26
Total Number of Correct Decisions for Swansea – 2+6= 8 Total Number of Correct Decisions = 26 + 8 = 34
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Arsenal – 14+20 = 34 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) for Swansea – 2+6 = 8 Total Number of Correct Decisions (Weighted) = 34 + 8 = 42
|
| Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Arsenal – 3+2 = 5
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions against Swansea – 5+0 = 5 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions = 5 + 5 = 10
AFTER POINTS HAVE BEEN WEIGHTED
Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Arsenal – 4+2 = 6 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) against Swansea – 9+0 = 9 Total Number of Incorrect Decisions (Weighted) = 6 + 9 = 15
|
|
Full Match Correct Decision Percentage = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 34/(34+10) = 77.2%
|
|
Full Match Correct Decision Percentage (WEIGHTED) = Total Correct Decisions / Total Decisions (Correct + Incorrect) = 42/(42+15) = 73.6% |
APPENDIX
| Key Decisions in the Match | Points |
| Advantage | 1 |
| Foul | 1 |
| Incorrect Corner | 1 |
| Incorrect Goal Kick | 1 |
| Incorrect Throw-in | 1 |
| Other (Ref Positioning, Injuries, Time Wasting, etc.) | 1 |
| Offside | 1 |
| Yellow Card | 2 |
| Red Card | 3 |
| Goal | 3 |
| Penalty | 3 |
NOTE: FOR ANY WRONG DECISION MADE THERE WILL BE NEGATIVE POINTS AWARDED FOR THAT SPECIFIC KIND OF EVENT.
NOTE: ANY INCORRECT OR WRONG DECISION/NON-DECISION WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED WITH A RED COLOUR.
NOTE: ANY DECISION THAT INVOLVES DOUBT IS HIGHLIGHTED AS BLUE IN COLOR.
NOTE: The word ‘FOR’ is used to show IN FAVOR OF.
BELOW IS THE LINK FOR THE “FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME 2015/2016”. ANY LAW OF THE GAME IS DIRECTLY REFERENCED FROM THIS DOCUMENT.
Looking back at the other reviews we can look at this as an historic review but more on that later on.
The first decision the ref had to make was missed. A clear handball from Montero was ignored. The next wrong decision also went against Arsenal when Özil was fouled without a foul being given. And when Koscielny was tackled from behind by Naughton and no yellow card was given one might have started thinking: Oh no, not again.
But well no… it was “not again” shortly after that. Bellerin brought down Montere just outside the penalty area the ref also kept his card in his pocket. Bellerin should have been booked.
But what followed will be the first real major decision this season going Arsenal’s way. The free kick was hit in the wall and the replay showed that it was Per Mertesacker who handled the ball. Hand not in a natural position, long distance between the ball and his hand, hand moving … this had all the boxes ticked for a deliberate handball … and a penalty. But the ref ignored it!
After all the wrong decisions going against Arsenal one could say: finally. But that doesn’t make the account of Swansea at that moment in the match of course. They should have had a penalty. Period!
As last error again going in favour of Arsenal a bit later to round up the first half.
Final score of the first half was 66.6% and if we put weight on the decisions it drops top 55.1%. But more importantly if we count the incorrect decisions we had benefited more than Swansea! A first time since… well a very long time.
Moving on the second half the ref had a rather decent match in the second half.
Once Arsenal had taken the lead he only made two real mistakes in the second half. One was rather laughable when former Liverpool player Shelvey slipped (a habit Liverpool players seem to have) and Alexis picked up the loose ball to see him called back much to his amazement. And ours. And finally in the closing minutes when Özil was pushed after playing the ball and the ref ignored it.
Let us move on to the second goal from Arsenal. I must admit that looking at my stream at the time I thought that Giroud jumped up against Fabianski and made him spill the ball. But having looked at it on a good video and looking at different angles… Giroud didn’t foul Fabianski. In fact Giroud jumped up against Koscielny and if one could give a foul against Giroud it was for jumping in Koscielny. But that isn’t really illegal or is punished by a foul so Giroud didn’t really do anything wrong, apart from distracting Fabianksi in such a way that he had more eye for his opponents than for the ball.
To make it clear: Koscielny made no foul at all. He just stood there waiting for the ball to come down, Giroud jumped up against him, Fabianski landed on top of him and spilled the ball and Koscielny took the gift with his right foot and put the ball in the goal. So the only conclusion can be: a valid goal. Even though I do admit I probably would have given a foul if I would have been the ref on the field.
But looking the video ref: a correct decision from referee Friend.
The second half score for the ref was an amazing 90% correct decisions. And if we put weight on the decisions it goes up to 92.8%! A really great result for the ref!! We probably will not see him again this season I think… unless he promises Riley that he’ll make up for it?
The final score over the whole 90 minutes was 77.2%. If we put weight on the decisions it goes to 73.6%.
But for me the most important number can be found in his bias numbers. Because at the end of the match both teams had a total of each 5 decisions going against them. For the first time in … well… many many years we have a ref who made as many mistakes in favour as he made against us!!!
And if we put weight on the decisions… the bias numbers are in favour of Arsenal! A favourable 40/60 in favour of Arsenal! I think this is the first time I can write such numbers down at the end of a match.
Well we had to wait many many years for this….
Meanderings from the History Society….
- Arsenal in the 70s, part 1: the re-birth of the club. 1969/70
- Arsenal in the 70s, part 2: preparing for the impossible. (July to December 1970)
- Arsenal in the 70s, part 3: The Golden Treble
i really do appreciate this analysis and do wish i could be of help to support this. the type of game and the pace at which we play our game makes it easy for ref’s to commit blunders all said, i will like to av this same analysis done for a Chelsea game.
best regards
Maybe after 10 years of being shafted , do you think that things are finally being evened out in our favour ? Nah ? Me too !
Great work here guys , congrats !
What about the blatant pull down for Cech on Gomis when Gomis was through ( but should have scored)? Clear penalty and red card.
No way was the second goal legal. Watch it again. Fabianski clearly pulled from behind
Jez
Clearly, you should have gone to Specsavers.
Jez.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-fans-talking-points-10367105
Half way through that WalesOnline article is a picture of that goal. While Fabianski’s stance seems unusual to me, there is nobody in that photograph close enough to have pulled Fabianski. Do you have a better picture?
Gord, it is when Fabianski goes up for the ball a few moments before that shot where Giroud fouls him.
Mick, I did – prescription fully up to date, just not with red and white tint. I couldn’t afford that added extra
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276352/Article/images/28094370/11284478-large.jpg
Jez
As @Gord has discussed the goal, let’s touch on Gomis and Cech. If I remember correctly, Cech dived for the ball making himself as big as possible and Gomis was able to avoid Cech taking the ball with him and would have scored but for the brilliant timely intervention of Hector Bellerin. Is your complaint that Cech shouldn’t have dived or that Bellerin shouldn’t have chased down the ball because that was a brilliant recovery for me and Gomis was dispossessed without fouling him
Cech took Gomis’s legs
Cech his hand was flat on the floor. Gomis was waiting to make contact but it didn’t came
Clearly took his legs – even mentioned on MotD. Red card offence
Amazing, a first! After such an outrageous piece of fortune in our favour, we clearly deserve Dean, Atkinson and Taylor for the rest of the season as a punishment.
Another amazingly comprehensive review and credit to the ref for his second half score
Jez.
I took that picture and doubled its size (Sinc interpolation). You can see that Giroud’s hand is past Fabianski, and open. Which only shows that at that instant, Giroud was not grabbing him. Certainly if that was the grab, it would not have produced the strange stance of Fabianski in the WalesOnline picture.
What your picture does not show, is evidence of a foul. Walter said that Giroud is jumping in the direction of Koscielny. If true (I have seen no video of the game, not even a TV broadcast), Fabianski is jumping into Giroud.
I will say you need better evidence to show that Giroud grabbed him.
My picture doesn’t Gord because it is the best I can find on the web. What does prove it is continuous slow motion watching back of the Sky coverage. Clear foul. Anyway, I’m just happy that we got the three points.
The one that Swans fans should be most angry about is the red card for Cech, or not as was the case. That was so blatant. What a pity we couldn’t get decisions like that against Spurs.
Jez, here’s the 2nd goal http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/swansea-vs-arsenal/goal-laurent-koscielny-2-0-all-the-angles-english-commentary.html There’s no one behind him to pull him back!
Here’s the Gomis dive ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHOo7Opf4-c Gomis looks embarrassed by how poorly he executed the dive!
A player not appealing for a penalty in front of his own fans but who sits afterwards, hands by his side, with a slightly sheepish look upon his face is a player who knows that his touch to beat Cech was too heavy which gave Bellerin the chance to clear.
Otherwise I’m sure the gentleman above would’ve told and tried to show exactly where and how Cech tripped the striker?
I could be wrong. It could be the case that Cech’s flat hand hitting the floor without any pace and power caused a mini-earthquake that caused and only affected the giant Gomis to lose his footing and fall over?
I have a question:
The Mertesacker handball. I understand that this is a handball, but I don’t feel that it should be. I could be on my own here but I thought the ball was going to hit Giroud’s head anyway? Which was only a few inches behind the BFGs arm.
I’m no fan of the “game management” gibberish but is this an instance where an official can use their own judgment?
Sorry finsbury, that argument doesn’t hold water. You aren’t allowed to protect yourself (that way). You are supposed to either duck or move your head to avoid the ball, or to take it in the head.
Thanks Gord. I guess I’m on my own 🙂
Finsbury,
Yes you are right the ball would have gone to hit Giroud’s head. But that would have been a consequence of Mertesacker not moving his hand towards the ball. Here the referee should not judge on what could have happened. Only what is happening in front right now.
Just imagine that the goalkeeper is down in his area and two defenders are at the goal line trying to protect the goal. The attacker takes a shot, 1st defender raises his hand and the 2nd defender tries to head in the direction of the ball. But the 1st defender saves the shot with his hand before the 2nd defender who could have clearly prevented it with his head. What do you think should be the decision? 🙂
Very very excited by the bias figures and the ninety per cent! Who knows what may happen next, but let’s at least enjoy this.
Another fine review – thanks guys.
Bias figures in favour of Arsenal? – Friend will be in Div 2 or 3 soon!!
Jez – I think if the Arsenal players moved out of the way Fabianski would have made just as big a mess. He was in the wrong position to jump & made a mess of grabbing the ball.
The Cech incident was a little more difficult to judge, but I think Gomis had lost the ball & was looking for an out.
Regarding the Per incident I heard the commentators, at the time of the incident, say Giroud tugged Per in his attempt to head the ball, so Per couldn’t be blamed there. I was shocked to hear them say so, as I naturally expected them to scream murder.