By Andrew Crawshaw
Our Match Officials this Saturday are :-
- Referee – Andre Marriner age 45 from the West Midlands and FIFA Accredited
- Assistant 1 – Simon Beck – from Bedfordshire and FIFA Accredited
- Assistant 2 – Andy Garratt – from the West Midlands
- Fourth Official – Michael Oliver – 31 years old from Northumberland and FIFA accredited
An experienced group of officials, Andy Garratt the only one without FIFA accreditation (although we know that FIFA accreditation is absolutely no guarantee that an official is in any way competent on a given day in an Arsenal game).
This will be the first game this season with Andre Marriner in charge of an Arsenal game, although his second for United – he was in charge of their 3 – 1 away win at Bournemouth in Matchweek 1 where he had an excellent match being named as joint Referee of the Week having made no wrong Important Decisions. We can but hope for a similarly good performance this week.
Here is the table of wrong decisions from our review referees performances from Matchweek 10
| This Week | Season to Date | |||||||||||
| Referee | 2nd Yellow | Red Cards | Pens | Goals | Total | Games | 2nd Yellow | Red Cards | Pens | Goals | Total | Avg |
| Roger East | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 3.0 | |||||
| Robert Madley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 2.6 |
| Craig Pawson | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 2.5 | |||||
| Mike Dean | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 2.3 | |||||
| Mark Clattenburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 2.2 |
| Anthony Taylor | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 2.0 |
| Graham Scott | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2.0 | |||||
| Jon Moss | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 1.9 |
| Michael Oliver | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 1.8 |
| Andre Marriner | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1.7 |
| Martin Atkinson | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1.7 |
| Kevin Friend | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1.6 | |||||
| Lee Mason | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1.6 |
| Paul Tierney | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1.5 | |||||
| Stuart Attwell | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1.3 |
| Neil Swarbrick | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | |||||
| Mike Jones | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1.2 |
Mr Marriner is solidly in mid table with 12 (an average of 1.7 wrong decisions in each of his 7 matches to date) he has also made 12 correct decisions.
| This Week | Season to Date | |||||||||
| Referee | 2nd Yellow | Red Cards | Penalties | Total | Games | 2nd Yellow | Red Cards | Penalties | Total | Avg |
| Mark Clattenburg | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16+1* | 18 | 3.0 |
| Graham Scott | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1* | 2 | 2.0 | ||||
| Paul Tierney | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2.0 | ||||
| Roger East | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.8 | ||||
| Andre Marriner | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 1.7 |
| Robert Madley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 1.7 |
| Stuart Attwell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4+1* | 5 | 1.7 |
| Neil Swarbrick | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1.4 | ||||
| Craig Pawson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1.3 | ||||
| Mike Dean | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 1.3 | ||||
| Michael Oliver | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 1.2 |
| Jon Moss | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5+1* | 8 | 1.0 |
| Kevin Friend | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.8 | ||||
| Lee Mason | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3+1* | 4 | 0.8 |
| Martin Atkinson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0.8 |
| Mike Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.7 |
| Anthony Taylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.4 |
In 2015-16 we had Mr Marriner twice, once at home and once away (exactly how it should be) and we won both games
Newcastle v Arsenal 29 August 2015 (0 – 1)
Ref Review : Newcastle – Arsenal
76% overall weighted score, bias against the two teams of 33/67 and two wrong Important Decisions (second yellow cards, red cards, penalties and goals). In Min 12 Thauvin fouled Bellerin in the penalty area for which he should have been booked and a penalty given (neither decisions were made); in Min 26 Thauvin was rightly given a yellow card but it should have been his second following the incident with Bellerin in the 12th minute.
Arsenal v Man City 21 December 2015 (2 – 1)
Ref Review: Arsenal – Man City
58% overall weighted score, bias against the two teams 87/13 and two wrong Important Decisions. Min 59 Fernandinho should have had a second yellow card for a foul on Bellerin and in Min 61 Fernandinho should have had a third yellow card for a foul on Campbell his first card should have come in Min 31 for a foul on Campbell (the referee noted the foul and played an advantage but failed to issue the booking at the next halt in play).
In 2014-15 we again had Mr Marriner on two occasions, this time both at the Emirates; again we won both games.
Arsenal v Southampton 3 December 2014 (1 – 0)
REF REVIEW Arsenal – Southampton
59% overall weighted score, bias against the two teams of 77/23 and two wrong Important Decisions Min 87 a Southampton player punched the ball away from Giroud in the penalty area (luckily Ramsey scored from the rebound so this error was of no consequence but Marriner made no indication that he was willing to give a penalty) and Min 90+2 Alexis was fouled in the penalty area without the penalty being awarded.
Arsenal v Everton 1 Mar 2015 (2 – 0)
Ref Review : Arsenal – Everton: a first half to cherish.
69% overall weighted score, bias against the two teams of 75/25 and one wrong Important Decision when in Min 53 Jagielka used his arms to block a Giroud shot in the penalty area, no penalty was awarded. In the first half only one not given foul by Coquelin on Jagielka, in the second half he made a flurry of mistakes at the start resulting in a much lower overall score than one would expect following his excellent first half.
Summary
- Andre Marriner is not normally a name that causes Arsenal supporters to quake in their boots and his numbers over the last two seasons bear that out. Four games and four wins.
- His actual numbers aren’t that great though, with only one game where he recorded more than the 70% minimum acceptable level and twice he was below the 60% mark.
- His bias numbers again aren’t terribly good although nowhere as bad as with the majority of the PGMO. In only one game was he approaching the 90% against Arsenal mark and he nearly got within the 60/40 acceptable level in one game.
- He hasn’t made too many mistakes in terms of Important Decisions in his last four Arsenal matches with 7, this is in line with his 1.7 per game average this year. Of the decisions he has got wrong they are evenly split between not given penalties (4) and players not getting second yellow cards (3).
- In his league games this year he has made 12 wrong decisions, 4 second yellow cards, three straight red cards, 4 penalties and one wrongly awarded goal.
- It is quite likely that on Saturday we will see
- 80% of the wrong decisions being in favour of Manchester United
- Manchester United players remaining on the pitch when they should have second yellow or red cards
- A not given penalty to Arsenal
- A penalty given to United
- A ‘soft’ sending off of an Arsenal player.
On the other hand, I could well be wrong and Mr Marriner will be as good in this game as he was on week 1 when United were away to Bournemouth and Untold gave him the referee of the Week award – let’s all hope that is the case.
COYG
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Previews: A (Possibly) Thrilling End to a Great Year
It’s November so it must be injury crisis time (and ticket price analysis time)
Ref Review: Arsenal – Tottenham: 25 fouls and one yellow card
Alexis played for 84 minutes for Chile last night while Man U face their own problems
Baba Vanga would be jealous of these previews!
Excellent work Andrew as usual.
A penalty for Arsenal looks almost impossible with Marriner over the last years. But that is not exclusively down to Marriner on his own as last season we almost got none.
The importance of this game to both Arsenal and Man Utd FCs is so much and as such Mr Mariner and his 2 assistants including the 4th official MUST jettison any temptation by any of them to be partial in this game against Arsenal or Man Utd during the playing of the match.
Wrong or inappropriate decision making by any of the match officials during this big match will be tantamount to bringing the PL into disrupt. And should this happens both Arsenal and Man Utd will not accept any flagrant misinterpretation or abuse of the rules & laws governing the game by Mr Mariner and his 2 assistants. Therefore, I implore Mr Mariner and his assistants to raise their heads above waters and do their jobs correctly to the letter.
No news yet or latest update on Sanchez fitness by Le Prof to know if Sanchez is passed fit to play for us tomorrow or not. But let’s assumed he’s fit to play which I believe he will be. And if Walcott has no any hamstring alert scares, our 1st team starts which have been conformly patterned by Le Prof as we all know them will start the Man U game. And this is very good as this patterning can only mean stability in our 1st team starts and this is confidence building in the rank & file of our patterned starters save 2 unavailable changes done to them.
My starts, bench & final scores:
Cech
Jenko Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
LeCoq Xhaka
Walcott Ozil Iwobi
Sanchez.
My bench:
Ospina Niles Gabriel Gibbs Ramsey Oxchambo Giroud.
Final scores:
Man Utd 0-3 Arsenal.
The importance of this game to both Arsenal and Man Utd FCs is so much and as such Mr Marriner and his 2 assistants including the 4th official MUST jettison any temptation by any of them to be partial in this game against Arsenal or Man Utd during the playing of the match.
Wrong or inappropriate decision making by any of the match officials during this big match will be tantamount to bringing the PL into disrupt. And should this happens both Arsenal and Man Utd will not accept any flagrant misinterpretation or abuse of the rules & laws governing the game by Mr Marriner and his 2 assistants. Therefore, I implore Mr Marriner and his assistants to raise their heads above waters and do their jobs correctly to the letter.
No news yet or latest update on Sanchez fitness by Le Prof to know if Sanchez is passed fit to play for us tomorrow or not. But let’s assumed he’s fit to play which I believe he will be. And if Walcott has no any hamstring alert scares, our 1st team starts which have been conformly patterned by Le Prof as we all know them will start the Man U game. And this is very good as this patterning can only mean stability in our 1st team starts and this is confidence building in the rank & file of our patterned starters save 2 unavoidable changes done to them.
My starts, bench & final scores:
Cech
Jenko Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
LeCoq Xhaka
Walcott Ozil Iwobi
Sanchez.
My bench:
Ospina Niles Gabriel Gibbs Ramsey Oxchambo Giroud.
Final scores:
Man Utd 0-3 Arsenal.
And less I forget, I am expecting the Gunners to play this match with absolute confidence as soon as they step on the Old Trafford, the Red Devils’ playing dungeon field to play. And 1st and foremost bind all the arch Red Devils in the rank & file of the Red Devils team Army which Jose Mourinho will send out to confront them they the Gunners in this battle for all 3 points that could worth 6 later on if gotten. And shouldn’t forget to cast all the arch Red Devils away after bidding them into that secret bottomless pit that is only known to them they the Gunners and not to any one else.
By the way, who told Real Madrid that Arsenal will not mind selling Aaron Ramsey in the coming January window? And for a paltry sum of £25m? Or has Ramsey secretly informed Madrid that he will force his way out of Arsenal if they are ready to sign him and increase his weekly pay packet from the £90k/w he’s currently earning at Arsenal according to report, to whateve?. And also guarantee him a starting role in Madrid’s 1st team?
Although Ancelotti managed Real Madrid did sell Ozil to us and he didn’t seek for any Gunner from Arsenal in retrospect before he left Madrid. Otherwise, Arsenal might have considered doing him and Madrid a favour for the earlier favour Madrid did to us.
However, the now Zinedine Zidane’s managed Real Madrid has refused to continue with the cordial transfer relationship that came into existence between Arsenal and R Madrid during Ancelotti’s regime at Madrid. But instead jettisoned it by bluntly refusing to obliged Arsenal when they wanted their Alvaro Morata in the summer despite Arsenal were willing to meet Madrid’s possible reasonable asking price.
One good turn deserves another. Had Zidane obliged Arsenal by selling Morata to us, of course Le Prof will feel heavy in his heart to refuse Zidane but oblige him with Ramsey to partner Bale as Zidane wants it. But not at that ridiculous proposed transfer fee of £25m being reported in the media. Maybe Arsenal will consider taking £45-50m before they allow Ramsey to move on.
But it’s not late, if Madrid are ready to sell Morata to us, but that depends if Le Prof still wants him, Madrid may wish to do a Morata exchange move to Arsenal plus cash payment deal for them to have Ramsey.
I have to admit to questioning the facts of this article and even checked elsewhere.
Michael Oliver………..31 years old!! He must worry a hell of a lot cos he looks about 50!!
I do quake in my booties when I hear we’re playing Marriner. Especially against “big” teams.
Remember the 1st half hour at South Fulham? I do.
That’s Andre’s MO.
I wonder what Dogface would make of the appointment! (Hope all’s well DF. I miss you, and wish you & yours well).
Great report, ref team.
Hope FIF is not right about this ref and Utd, but as ever I wish him and his officials a good game , and an improvement in our last couple of officials in the EPL…..and let’s face it, that is not asking a lot
But I fear the worst in this game, a dodgy red card/ penalty would not surprise me. Coq , Xhaka, kos, mustaphi you have been warned
So, Rooney to get sent off today. Still fuming at the “nearly leg breaker tackle he pulled on Sagna” ages ago without any card or caution.
Well i can hope, but no, I want Arsenal to beat them with all their 11 players on field.
Come on Arsenal, it’s been building up for a while now, time to put them to bed for the new age.
I just can’t trust Marriner ever since he sent off Gibbs wrongly against Chelsea a few years ago! But let’s go Gunners! Expecting a physical and defensive game today, hope we are too quick for them!