by Bulldog Drummond
We recently reported that one of the goals in the Arsenal women’s match against Ajax was found by Arsenal to be of the wrong size, and that issue was resolved.
Now we have a similar story in the Telegraph under the headline Championship game played with ‘different sized goals’. “Mark Hudson, the City manager, said his staff pointed the discrepancy out to the referee who told him it would take too long to check.”
Two such reports in a couple of weeks suggest this could be quite a problem – and it is rather amazing that with all their get fit activities before the match – lots of running up and down along the half way line which you can witness if you get into your seat early enough – and with a fourth official present (who doesn’t do the warm-ups) the fourth official could surely be given an electronic distance measuring device to check the goals.
But that would be an innovation, and the PGMO would probably find a reason not to allow it, so no one knows if the goals are going to be the right size or not, match by match. Any other organisation would zip straight in with a checking system, but the PGMO? Not a word.
And there’s some other interesting news around too, such as tales of Barcelona’s “financial apocalypse” and this being the time “for Ben White to vault into England’s World Cup reckoning” not to mention the fact that Real Madrid appear to have been found guilty of taking state aid, which of course is illegal under EU rules (although not in the UK it seems, given the aid that Newcastle are getting from Saudi Arabia).
Not to forget my favourite of the day, “Auston Trusty backed to make World Cup squad after on-loan Arsenal defender scores twice for Birmingham.”
Thus, is the state of football, against which we are playing Liverpool. Staying with the Standard for a moment this is their nominated Arsenal team for today…
Ramsdale;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney;
Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka;
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
And indeed there is not much to argue with in that regard. Although Sports Mole offer us
Ramsdale;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko;
Partey, Xhaka;
Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli;
Jesus
There is no agreement on whether Zinchenko is fit enough to start, or not but otherwise that is pretty much it for the notion of who will play – other sites coming in with much the same vision.
As for the way the match will pan out, there is an interesting note on the BBC’s website that says that “Jurgen Klopp’s side were very comfortable against Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday but they weren’t tested defensively. Here, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus won’t give them a minute’s peace.”
And then it gets even better with this extraordinary paragraph:
“I think Liverpool will score, even though they have not quite clicked yet this season, but Arsenal’s attacking talent are going to cause them a lot of problems at the other end. Prediction: 4-1”.
I’ll most certainly go for that.
On the other hand if we were to lose (which I really would be surprised about) it would be the first time ever that Arsenal had lost five successive matches against Liverpool. It would also be the first time ever Liverpool have won three successive matches against Arsenal at Arsenal’s stadium.
And yet another one of those “first time” tales – if we stop them scoring today it will be the first time in 13 games that they haven’t managed one goal against us. Now that is a record worth ending.
In recent weeks we have been doing comparisons with how we had fared after this number of matches in previous seasons. There hasn’t been time to check the records before this game (apologies for that) but we can say that 21 points from eight games (which is as things stand before this game) is not quite our best start ever. We have had 22 points after eight matches in two Premier League seasons but on neither occasion did we win the league.
On the goal-scoring front Gabriel Jesus has, as you will know very well, scored five goals and got three assists this season. He remains unbeaten in all 51 top-tier matches in which he has scored.
However, what we should not do is get too carried away if we are in the lead at half-time. Liverpool have the worst first-half record in the division being behind at halftime in five out of seven games so far.
Some might say it is all over bar the shouting. I rather suspect the Untold team will be doing quite a bit of shouting in the latter part of this afternoon.
If you can make it to the ground, have a good game. If watching on TV, down off the sound.
- On this day in history: Arsenal under Chapman slip down to 14th
Talk about being on time…. woah…..what a play !!
Now they need to play as if they had not scored…and stay concentrated
Oh Happy days…..
Got nothing more to say…..
This team is for real. The pace in this team is something to see. Hard to respond to.
It was one of the most stunning afternoon’s of football ever – I’d have to go back to 2004 to think of something that compared to this. Not just fantastic football, but the whole stadium was alive.
And so, it proved. What a game. 2 quality teams going hell for leather. Every one of our guys did their bit but for me Martinelli was outstanding.
Well, for a change we got the rub of the green with the big calls from both the referee and VAR.
Firstly, their first half penalty shout. Personally, I would have wanted that if it was us. Okay they were very close but arms up? Unnatural? Hmm. Not nailed on but as they say, I’ve seen them given, especially by VAR. In my view a 60/40 penalty that went our way. Very unusual.
Secondly, our penalty. Soft. I still haven’t clearly seen if there was contact with Jesus, but even so? 60/40not a penalty.
So, two very debatable calls go our way in one match.
Odd isn’t it how decisions start to go our way once the media start liking us a bit more.
2 years ago, both Referee and VAR would have got post-match pelters from SKY. Today, not a word.
Just seen the Jesus penalty under the MOTD microscope and it was a pen, all be it a soft one.
Under the current interpretation I think the Gabriel handball is still in the ‘I’ve seen ’em given category” and I would have wanted it. That being said I don’t think it warrants comparison with yesterday’s pen in the Newcastle match as his arm was well above his head, which I believe is a major factor in the ‘unnatural position’ aspect of the decision.
Hearing the MOTD muppets NOT tearing Oliver or VAR apart was really odd, but not as odd as hearing them fawning over us.
Strange times.
This was nowhere near being Liverpool’s worst performance of the season, so the result is more significant than many in the media may realise.
Martinelli, Saka and Jesus seem to be taking the accolades, but Tomiyasu was my MotM.
An on-the-pitch “incident” is being investigated by the FA. Michael Oliver spoke to both managers during the game, but neither would elucidate on the details of that conversation.
The Twitter feed of a current ITV News presenter may provide some enlightenment to anyone interested.
@Seismic,
To me the MJS line we have up front is going to prove just untenable to many defences. Like quicksilver they will always find ways to overflow anything that want to stop them. And if you pile up players to stop them, you open the way to the next wave which can do it’s part coming from further back. Really, I can’t remember an offensive line like this. And we still have quite a few players who can jump in.
And I mean, in the end of the second half, how many times did we have the Pool! box packed with players running around keeping the ball but not being able to shoot because there were too many legs in the way. Is here any official count of dribbles in the opposition box somewhere ?
By the way, we’ve got the second best offense in the league, North London is Red and we sent the Reds home White….
WOO HOO , HOO ! Another 3 points in the bag . Another 16 more and we’d avoid relegation !
Did Mo Salah finish the match on the pitch ? Did not hear a peep from him the whole game . Nor hardly saw him do anything of note . That in itself is high praise indeed for our defence !
Up the Gunners !
From Nitram
What a game. 2 quality teams going hell for leather. Every one of our guys did their bit but for me Martinelli was outstanding.
Well, for a change we got the rub of the green with the big calls, from both the referee and VAR.
Firstly, their first half penalty shout. Personally, I would have wanted that if it was us. Okay they were very close but arms up? Unnatural? Hmm. Not nailed on but as they say, I’ve seen them given, especially by VAR. In my view a 60/40 penalty that went our way. Very unusual.
Secondly, our penalty. Soft. I still haven’t clearly seen if there was contact with Jesus, but even so? 60/40 not a penalty.
So, two very debatable calls go our way in one match.
Odd, isn’t it how decisions start to go our way once the media start liking us a bit more.
2 years ago, both Referee and VAR would have got post-match pelters from SKY. Today, not a word.
Herr Klopp bleating like a sheep about the “soft” penalty. He should consider the penalties awarded to Liverpool by weak, gullible referees following Salah’s knees buckling under minimal contact. I wonder why Elliott was not cautioned for a blatant dive late in the game.