by Andrew Crawshaw
What did we learn from Matchweek 1?
1: Granit Xhaka is still being dealt with in a different manner from every other player in the Premier League. If his yellow card for simulation was warranted then at least three Crystal Palace players should also have gone into the book for the same offence (for example Ayew in Minute 81; Eze in Minute 82).
2: Far more was allowed in the way of challenges not being called fouls than last season. Supposedly this is an instruction to allow the game to flow more, which I wasn’t aware of when I gave my pre-season update last week. This puts a further onus on the referees to act in an even-handed manner, not normally known in Arsenal matches (Jesus was fouled continually by Palace players and got absolutely no protection. Anderson wiping him out from behind in Minute 69 was an example that would have been worth a booking last season).
3: We saw Anthony Taylor reverting to the old “Phantom Foul’ routine to give Palace a free kick in minute 78 last weekend.
4: The match commentators and pundits last weekend continually referred to Mr Taylor as one of the best referees in the PL – all I can say is that if that is true ie is a woefully low standard.
Who is on duty this coming weekend?
| Match | Referee | Assistant Referees | 4th Official | VAR referee | Assistant VAR Referee |
| Aston Villa
V Everton |
Michael Oliver | Stuart Burt
Simon Bennett |
Tom Bramall | Andy Madley | Constantine Hatzidakis |
| Arsenal
V Leicester |
Darren England | James Mainwaring
wade Smith |
Robert Jones | Mike Dean | Derek Eaton |
| Brighton
V Newcastle |
Graham Scott | Adrian Holmes
Mark Scholes |
Gavin Ward | Craig Pawson | Darren Cann |
| Man City
V Bournemouth |
David Coote | Nick Hopton | Timothy Wood
Josh Smith |
Peter Bankes | Adam Nunn |
| Southampton
V Leeds |
Tony Harrington | Simon Long
Richard West |
Michael Salisbury | Simon Hooper | Dan Cook |
| Wolves
V Fulham |
John Brookes | Neil Davies
Natalie Aspinal |
David Webb | Jarred Gillett | Steve Meredith |
| Brentford
V Man United |
Stuart Attwell | Marc Perry
Eddie Smart |
Anthony Taylor | Paul Tierney | Gary Beswick |
| Nottingham Forest
V West Ham |
Robert Jones | Lee Betts
Ian Hussin |
Simon Hooper | Michael Salisbury | Richard West |
| Chelsea
V Spurs |
Anthony Taylor | Gary Beswick
Adam nunn |
Peter Bankes | Mike Dean | Mark Scholes |
| Liverpool
V Crystal Palace |
Paul Tierney | Dan Cook
Dan Robathan |
Craig pawson | Andre Marriner | Nick Hopton |
So as I said last week it hasn’t taken long for Mike Dean to appear on the officials list for an Arsenal game, I guess we should all be ready for a Xhaka red card following a VAR intervention for something completely innocuous.
Maybe Arsenal’s next strategy will be to field players depending on the referee.
That said, to me Gabriel was really surprised by the treatment he received at the hands of CP players without the referee doing anything about it. I guess he was not used to that playing for Citeh…
Chris,
Tha’s the way I saw it.
One other thing I meant to include was al IIWGX (If it were Granit Xhaka) moment which last weekend went to Manchester United’s Scott McTominay who’s over the ball studs up challenge was without doubt worthy of a red card. As it wasn’t by Granit, or any other Arsenal player, of course a mere yellow was the colourof the card brandished
Plus VAR denying Brighton a blatant penalty and allowing a dubious Man Utd goal. Still not enough help to get them a point.
Scott McTominay has never received a red card in the Premier League. Let that sink in.
Regarding the refusal to award Brighton an obvious penalty (an identical offence to our penalty v Seville) nobody has mentioned that the assistant referee was perfectly positioned to give it. I have no doubt the hapless Tierney would have awarded it at the other end. I eagerly await Liverpool v Crystal Palace Monday evening. to see Klopp’s favourite referee Tierney in action.