Bogey Team Beaten – But Only Just
Oct 16th, 2016 by 'holic
Another bright start enabled Arsenal to chalk up a sixth consecutive Premier League win, but goodness me it turned into a real battle for the three points despite our obvious superiority for most of the match. On a glorious October afternoon we took advantage of the teams above us only drawing to go level on points with leaders Manchester City.
After some encouraging early exchanges we went close when Skhodran Mustafi just missed the target with a powerful header. The German international was quick to venture upfield at every opportunity and he has given us an extra dimension.
It seemed inevitable that we would take the lead and we did so when the rejuvenated Theo Walcott applied a deft touch to Hector Bellerin’s headed cross that Amat failed to deal with. Alexis all but doubled the advantage but his cheeky lob drifted just wide of the far post. Twelve minutes before the break we seemed to have sealed the points when Walcott grabbed his second when Swansea failed to deal with a corner.
The mood changed momentarily, however, when Granit Xhaka conceded possession and Sigurdsson lashed an effort past Petr Cech. The goal lifted Swansea visibly and sent a huge warning out to the home side.
The two goal advantage was restored twelve minutes after the break when Alexis once more turned provider for Mesut Ozil’s delicious far post volley. It was another magical moment from a magical pairing. Again the contest should have been secured, but Arsenal, being Arsenal, made it harder for themselves than it should have been.
Winger Barrow, who gave Nacho Monreal a thorough examination throughout the second half, crossed for substitute Borja to apply the finish, and the Gunners were again defending the narrowest of advantages. The tension only increased when Xhaka, having an afternoon he will want to forget, cynically tripped Barrow on the halfway line and found himself the recipient of what appeared to be the harshest of red cards. It was not an afternoon that referee Moss will look back on with any pride.
What remained seemed to be a string of crosses and headers straight at Cech broken only by two wonderful breaks that should have seen Walcott complete his hat-trick, but in his search for the perfect finish he hit first post, and then crossbar, as the Gunners somewhat stumbled over the finishing line.
Arsene summed up the frustration at our failure to get the comfortable win our football deserved.
“I have some mixed feelings because it looked at some points comfortable and then it never was.”
The loss of Xhaka for three matches provides an opportunity for Francis Coquelin or Mohamed Elneny to claim the vacant berth. The form of the front four continues to excite, but that is two wins by a single goal on the bounce. Let’s hope for a more convincing victory against Ludogorets on Wednesday.
A huge thanks to all who shared parts of a thoroughly enjoyable day. From the lunchtime burger to the homeward bound bacon baguette it was real fun, the final twenty-five minutes of the match aside!
53 Responses to “Bogey Team Beaten – But Only Just”
Mornin ‘holic
It was really nervy watching updates on the internet without the occasional relief of seeing us romping upfield but the result was the thing.
I would point out however that this was the third “bogey” team of recent year to have been beaten. Southampton, Chelsea and now Swansea.
All the best
Ah, just got cut off in the previous bar, so –
Firmly in the bath, TTG, Countryman camp here.
The Xhaka foul should not have been a red card – bath has done an excellent job of outlining the reasons above.
From where I sit – which is right in front of it – there was no dangerous foul play, no violent conduct, no raised hands in contact with anything, no clear goal scoring opportunity. There was a deliberate trip – the kind that our creative players are subjected to on a rotational basis by opposition players – and no more.
My own honest feeling was to be glad that we have someone prepared to take a yellow card for the team in those circumstances, something we have lacked for a long time.
I would not be condoning inflicting injury but Xhaka’s tackle did not. Barrow was up and running as normal as soon as the obligatory RADA limp off the pitch and back on had been completed. He actually limped off after overreaching to get a cross in.
The punishment should have been a yellow card for a deliberate foul.
In all the condemnation of Xhaka, who looks an excellent addition to me, there is no mention of some of his brilliant left footed passing, or indeed the scything down of Mesut Ozil in the second half.
It was on the opposite side of the pitch from my seat but that did look like an out of control ( i.e. dangerous ) tackle to me and could far more easily have deserved a red card.
A very good performance made jittery by some very poor defending. My 4-0 prediction could easily have come true and should really have been 5 or 6, had Mr Walcott, who otherwise did well, not blasted one into the feoshpere in the final minute.
** that last line was just for you Chris ? **
Same game here, Holic,
although Xhaka did a lot of good things too.
Just seen an interesting photo. If Xhaka had not tripped Barrow Swansea would have been four against two.
He did the right thing.
Cheers Ray. Spot on about the bogey teams.
Hello Trev/countryman. The trip was right in front of me and the crowd went nuts when a red card was shown. Awful decision.
I’ve only seen the incident on MOTD. It was a ridiculous challenge and one he did not have to make.
I’m not going to give my opinion on the card but if it’s such an awful decision then why are we not appealing it? Especially if we stand to lose a player for 3 games????
I claim the RP7 memorial number 7.
And I’ve said my piece on the card. If you give a red card for cynicism then I look forward to Arsenal playing opposition reduced to 3 outfield players at the Emirates on a regular basis.
Guvna, a fine distillate of an afternoon that delivered exactly what we wanted over all else: recapture of the pre-interlull momentum with all 3 points and some sparkling ball play, with an unwanted frisson of risk at the end and a lesson for our new midfield enforcer that a stiletto is preferable to a claymore if he is to avoid being the victim of disproportionate ‘justice’ from an utter bampot of a ref.
Not too bothered about the Xhaka red card (which he clearly did not deserve), the difference this season… Elneny and Coquelin are available… strength in depth!
Ref was ‘orrible ..no consistency at all. Should have sent off their player for chopping down Ozil.
All in all a good result, seeing that city and spuds both dropped points.
Cannot wait to see Pool and ManU hacking at each other, wager Moaninho will be sent to the stands…
😀
The FA are looking into comments made by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho ahead of Monday’s Premier League game at Liverpool.
Managers are not supposed to speak about referees prior to matches.
However, speaking to journalists ahead of the game at Anfield, Mourinho said referee Anthony Taylor’s job had been made ‘difficult’ by criticism of his appointment by some Liverpool fans as well as former referee’s chief Keith Hackett.
—————-
Maybe Moaninho will start in the stands!
😀
Thoroughly enjoyable day out with some splendid football on display from the team in red. The goals that we nearly scored were all beauties and would have won a whole shelf-full of goal of the season trophies, each and every one.
For a man who I saw described by one of our worthies here as ‘having two left feet and both of them square’ Xhaka is playing himself in nicely and will be a real force when completely attuned. T’was never a red. A dark yellow? Maybe. Stopped four against two and prevented a likely goal at a difficult point in the game. Good man.
Those drinks in the Tolly went down just a little too easily but, boy, were they enjoyable and they didn’t half keep the rain from being wet on the walk to Finsbury Park.
A very good report Holic and balanced and fair as usual. In some sites on the net you could see excuses given if an Arsenal player went on the field with a machete and beheaded someone. We are torn between those who resent cynicism e.g., Steve T and Chris and their attitude is admirable and the more pragmatic like myself, Bath , Countryman and Trev who viewed it in the context of the rules and what happens around the world of football. A good debate and I’m certain that the card would be rescinded if we appealed . But maybe Wenger, resents what Xhaka did. He is after all, the only manager ever to give a team a replay after we had beaten them, and as a man of principle he doesn’t approve of Xhaka’s cynicism, or in his own Zen- like way he will use the ban to impress on Xhaka the need for commonsense so that he does not do it again in a more compromising position. That is the depth of the manager’s thinking. A Trump- like Mourinho would call the referee out and make his life a misery. Another example why Wenger is worth fifty times the loathsome Portuguese .
Regarding the red card, The Ox on this mornings “Goals on Sunday”said that the players were given a briefing by the Refs prior to this season. A premeditated tackle where the player had no intention of playing the ball, no matter where on the pitch, was THIS season an automatic red card.
Arsene aware of the new ruling must have known there was no point in appealing the red card.
It was a highly entertaining game full of incident, 2 outstanding goals, some dodgy defending, the best and worst of Feo but more importantly 3 precious points.
COYRs
Delia @14, if that ruling is indeed in place, then I have to say that there should be a far greater number of red cards being shown across the league.
Finally had a chance to catch up and read the report. With the exception of the sending off it looks like the majority of us saw the same game. 3 points are 3 points at the end of the day. Some sloppy defending and some less than clinical moments up front make it The Arsenal.
The red card. It’s interesting to read the various views expressed here and straight after the match. It’s ironic to read comments from some who regularly slaughter referees that now seem to condone out and out cheating. The Xhaka “foul” was just that. You can dress it up as much as you want but it’s a deliberate act of breaking the rules. It may not sit well with some but it’s cheating none the less.
Personally I hate it. I’m not in the “take one for the team” camp in the slightest. It was a totally needless challenge on the sidelines and on the halfway line. It was a deliberate act to take out the player. I’m not for one minute suggesting that Xhaka meant to harm the player, but There was zero intention to play the ball.
So, was it a red? I have no idea. I agree that in the past it had been a yellow. Then I read Delias comments above. I have read elsewhere the thoughts of AOC. If he is correct then not only is it a red, but it would seem that everyone has been pre warned. If that is the case then it makes Xhaka even more of a buffoon. The only saving grace might be that it’s just a one game ban if that is true.
What is more worrying is that I have read elsewhere that there may be a possibility that Moss saw it as a deliberate kick out. That would then be serious foul play and a 3 game ban.
If AOC is right then I for one am all for it. I’m glad the cuddle fest at corners has been addressed. I’m also glad that avgenuinecattemot to play the balk is not now an automatic red. If AOC is right then I’m also all for that.
Regardless of all that my one opinion is that Xhaka made a very poor decision. One that was totally unnecessary and one that could have cost us very dearly.
…. a genuine attempt to play the ball is not a straight red…
Poxy phone.
Bacon baguette please maestro. 😉
I love how so many are still calling it a ‘trip’ as if Xhaka curled his foot around Barrow’s to bring him down. He didn’t, he couldn’t reach anything like that far. What he did was kick Barrow’s leg just below the tibiofibular joint, which is well above the foot. Had he ‘tripped’ Barrow I would have agreed with yellow being sufficient. But deliberately kicking a leg gets a red from me every day.
Yes, Trev, Barrow did get up, and he also ran for a while, but he was soon limping and is now on the injured list with a ‘knock’. A knock fortunately describes the result of Xhaka’s effort, but not the intention.
Poor old Theo, Trev, you can’t resist a jibe even when he is motm. That’s my fault I realise, but unnecessary. Have an elderberry on me. 🙂
As for Moss and the call for him to be banned from reffing us, hang on there! He’s about the best we get … of the last 15 games under his whistle we’ve won 13, lost 1, drawn 1, and Xhaka’s red was the first Moss has given us.
The loss was the Southampton 4-0 drubbing and the draw, against Norwich, when we lost both Alexis and Kos during the game … neither result down to Moss.
Nope, Moss is a lucky ref for us and we should have him every week.
Chris@20
Good point re Moss. . He reffed our FA Cup Final win over Villa and could scarcely have helped us more giving us the benefit of the doubt in 2 penalty shouts which looked alarmingly close to me although I think we were already home and hosed that day.
I certainly don’t accuse him of bias, I’m just never hugely impressed by his match control. Let me tell you there is great rejoicing in the rebirth of Theo among regulars at the ground and I took Trev’s comment in that spirit. That last chance was a sitter and denied him a very well-deserved hat- trick.
There are rumours that we are struggling to reach agreement with Mesut. It struck me that at 28 this is the key contract of his life. He is in his prime and needs to ensure that we are going to be a competitive team over the length of that contract . Methinks his situation is inextricably tied to Wenger’s
Chris –
Would that have been the Southampton game where 3 of their 4 goals should have been disallowed – and the Norwich game where Alexis was smashed into the camera pit without sanction against the Norwich player?
We’re doing okay!
🙂 🙂 🙂
TTG: then again none of those two Villa penalty shouts were penalties. The first one was a foul, but the actual foul was a yard or so outside the area even if Agbonlahor made sure he fell into the area so should have been a free kick. The second one was a dive, there was contact but Graelish made much more of it than there was. And as you say, the game was over by that stage anyway. And besides, we were denied four penalties v Hull the year before so there 🙂
As for the Xhaka red, if indeed there is a directive to the referees (note: a directive, nowhere in the official laws of the game that I can find does it state that a deliberate foul is a straight red in itself – it is if it is an obvious goal-scoring opportunity but not if it isn’t) then fair play but by extension that would mean that every shirt pull would by definition have to be a straight red wherever it occurred on the pitch. And as for the Ox saying they’ve been told… well, I wouldn’t trust a player when it comes to the rules any further than I could lift up Tom Hundredstone and throw him. Players still think “I got the ball” is always an excuse ffs! Hull players wanted Cech sent off when they got a penalty, they clearly had no idea that the law changed this summer. Et cetera. The only argument you can make for the Xhaka red is that it would be voilent conduct (which is what it has been reported as, Xhaka is listed as suspended for three matches on thefa.com) but that requires that he has to show clear disregard to the danger of causing injury to the opponent but if you look at the situation closer he actually does the exakt opposite. He does the minimal needed to bring him down and then Barrow makes a massive meal of it. I don’t for a second buy that he was injured in that situation, he played on for some 15 minutes and continued to torment Monreal down our left side until he was subbed off. The tackle that sent Özil up in the air just outside their area was much more dangerous and would have been a much more deserved straight red but even that would have been slightly harsh.
@Lars
Well said!
😀
The returning Lars knows. Just like the Lars who used to frequent this place on a regular basis, offering not just sage observations but fine liquor funded from the depths of his legendary bottomless wallet as recorded in the ancient Norse legends.
Bath, I haven’t really gone away – just not posting much these days 🙂
Bath knows 😉
Good discussion above.
Re: Xhaka, it was never a red card in a million years. You’ll see challenges like that in every game this season without early baths being taken – in fact, we saw a shirt pull on Santi during a first half break away with exactly the same intent that merited only a chatting to by the ref.
For anyone who thinks it was a straight red in the current climate, the challenge is clear: find some footage of a player being sent straight off in a recent Premier League game for a similar offence (i.e. a less than spectacularly violent foul on the halfway line, with two or more defenders between it and the goal). Absent that footage, either the ref got the law of the game wrong, or there’s a new law which thus far has been applied solely to an Arsenal player, despite frequent opportunities to give it a more widespread airing. Neither possibility is all that pleasing.
Feel free to skip to 2’14 in this clip to see Ivanovic deliberately clear out Alex Iwobi on the edge of the box in the Chelsea game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMNsM_sq8Do A far more dangerous position, at least as much intent, and what was the result? A yellow card, with not a single Arsenal player appearing to call for red.
Personally, I’ve no problem with a bit of cynicism. It’s what it takes to win titles, and we’re always told that’s what we’re meant to be doing – a team of son-in-laws, is the long standing the accusation, is it not? Bit too nice? I was actually on my feet clapping Xhaka just before the card was produced, and I would hope that any Arsenal player would have done exactly what he did in that position. It’s part of the game – good to see we’re finally waking up to it a bit.
Beyond the above, I thought the real scandal of the Xhaka incident was our collective naivety in attack. 3-2 up at home against a team we knew would give us chances. Just needed to be patient. Instead, we attacked with 7 men in front of the ball (including both full backs at once) and could easily have found ourselves 2 v 4. A bit of common sense and that situation doesn’t arise. Hopefully, lessons will be learned, because Saturday should have been a stroll once we were two goals in front, and instead we very nearly chucked it.
As for why we’re not appealing – I’ve a funny feeling Wenger is using this incident to teach the player a lesson, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him spend a little spell in the dog house now that Coquelin is back. A shame, because apart from the first goal I thought he was excellent on Saturday, but all part of the education.
COYG
Yellow card for me, not rash, even 4 v 2 they had to travel quite a distance, literally one-half of the pitch and we do know we have the likes of bellerin and kos covering, so not a red card.
Xhaka just needs time, i believe he is fantastic for he does not shy away to be in a situation and knows how to get out of it with the best possible option. No i dont mean taking one for the team, i mean his ability to read the situation.
I did not sense we will blow the game even when they scored the second. Additionally, the strength in depth allows me not to worry if we lose some players. Of course there is no replacement for an ozil or a sanchez but most other places, we are covered.
Mesut and his contract looks like a hard bargain. He is well within his rights to demand but then where do we draw the line? or should we even draw anything and instead concede to his demands? time shall tell but replacing like for like is fairly impossible.
Now can we atleast renew kos first? He wont demand right; let us pay him the top dollar for he a top defender.
P.S- liverpool to win tonight.
I’d be apathetic about this match tonight if I could be arsed.
Usual request from me tonight. Both teams to drop points, four red cards, a couple of six week hammies and Maureen sent off.
Not too much to ask is it? 🙂
Can’t be arsed by Poo v Manure but I am hoping Maureen tries to poke Klopp in the eye and Klopp responds by grabbing Maureen’s head and trying to bite off his ear.
just watched the first half of liverpool manu and it reminded me of shakespeare: “it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
really. just not much there from either side. yeah, it’s a big game because of the team names, but really not much going on other than the gegenpress, the ibra, and a bit of rashford. i have no clue how antonio valencia starts the game, same for jordan henderson.
good for us, then.
Good to see you posting again Lars.
Like BTM and a few other regulars,your contributions have been sorely missed.
Most particularly on days in the Bar,which unfortunately are becoming the norm rather than a rarity, when there has been a paucity of intelligent,well constructed,thought provoking posts that make other regulars start tapping the keyboard to create an ongoing debate.
I must admit,i do in idle moments,wonder whether when reading some posts,and not necessarily always in this Bar,whether the poster actually understands Football at all.
Clive, thanks for the kind words.
This is a football blog, Clive? Now you tell us!
But welcome back to Lars and his words of wisdom.
Lars, N7 – well said.
Blimey, Chris, I took a jibe at Theo ?
Yes, I said he blasted one into the feosphere, a little joke as we do actually cheer him in the stadium with the “Feo, Feo” chant. It was a shocking miss but the intended jokiness of my remark, as TTG seems to have realised, was even signposted with a smiley emoji !
I also said he otherwise did well which reflects my own honest feeling about his performance. I don’t know if he was the official MotM but he wasn’t for me. His first goal was a deft finish, his second was well executed but you would have been furious had he missed from there.
In the meantime, he worked quite hard, tried to cover his fullback well and still was too easily knocked off the ball a number of times, giving it away.
A jibe ? That implies unnecessary and unkind criticism. Not my style when it comes to our players. I’m sorry the little joke was not to your liking. Maybe you could supply a list of comments I can safely make without causing offence as I was actually just trying to have a little chuckle with you.
If you get the old 60 incher warmed up again, you might notice Barrow scorching Monreal several times after Xhaka’s tackle and stretching to make a cross which led to his injury. He was not injured by Xhaka’s “knock”.
I also note your continued ignoring of the far worse tackle that flattened Özil in the second half, or did that not look cynical enough to draw comment ?
Some nice comments above – especially from the usual suspects, or in your case Lars, an unusual suspect of late. Good to see you back.
Agree completely with the broad Xhaka consensus. Nice to have a little muscle and attitude in midfield.
Think your comments on Feo are nailed on Trev.
All in all, I think we’re in a good space, especially when you look at the billions spent to provide a “tactical masterclass” by Jose et al tonight.
Usual request from me tonight. Both teams to drop points, four red cards, a couple of six week hammies and Maureen sent off.
Well I got one of the above anyway!
By the way, Chris, this from your @19 –
“What he did was kick Barrow’s leg just below the tibiofibular joint, which is well above the foot. ………..
Yes, Trev, Barrow did get up ………”
As you’ve addressed me, I’ll answer –
When talking about the tibiofibular joint you really, and especially in this context, need to be more specific as there are two of them.
The superior, or proximal tibiofibular joint is indeed just below the knee on the lateral side of the lower leg.
The inferior, or distal, tibiofibular joint is on the lateral side of the ankle.
I assume you are referring to the superior joint in your comment, which goes on to say “but deliberately kicking a leg gets a red card from me every day”.
I’ve watched the incident again several times and all I can see is a touch, or a trip, I would struggle to call it a kick, about half way between the two joints – incidentally about the least likely place on the entire leg to cause an injury.
I would be interested to hear Clive’s and the Rambler’s description of that contact.
Other than the error for Swansea’s first goal, I thought Xhaka had an excellent game. Hardly deserving of being called an idiot and a buffoon as above.
Cheers, Joe.
Hope your well, sir.
Tsk – your = you’re
Evening Trev
Dear old Chris does wind you up doesn’t he.
As to your question,
The Ramblers would in our day have called that contact a ” Bee Sting ”
Hardly worthy of the hysterical crying and rolling around from Barrow,who incidentally when not play acting on the Football field,gets plenty of work as an extra in War Movies,as he ” dies ” so convincingly.
You don’t get a knock by stretching, Trev, you get a knock by being knocked. Xhaka’s kick didn’t make full-blooded contact, so no surprise to see Barrow up and running it off, but he started limping not long after and before the cross you refer to. He later turned his ankle while challenging Nacho and went off after that. Whether that ankle turn resulted from the kick I don’t know. My principal point is that kicking out at a player, whether damage is caused or not, is or should be a red card, imo. And apparently that is the new rule according to Delia’s comment.
All clearly seen (from several angles) on the 55″ (not 60″). 😉
My apologies for misreading your Theo comments, I guess I’m still a bit sensitive after our history. And I didn’t mention the Mesut tackle because I agreed with the consensus, unlike that of Xhaka’s. But I did correct someone’s suggestion that Mesut’s goal was shinned (using the 55″ evidence of a perfect volley), even likening the goal to crackers from van Pussy and Sir Bob.
…and that was written before your most recent posts, but let’s let it drop, okay.
…and enough of the old, Clive.
On a brighter note, this is not before time … https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/1995434/arsene-wenger-installs-injury-reducing-pitch-at-arsenals-london-colney-training-base/
Not sure who said Barrow has a knock but still ……
We should get married, Chris. I would then have no trouble with you always wanting the last word before suggesting we “let it drop”. ?
😀
I downloaded Amy Lawrence’s latest book on Wenger and read it on the plane today. Because of her relationship with the club( she was a fanatical supporter before going into full-time journalism) I think Arsene was more relaxed in his interviews. The book is worth a read for Arsene’s foreword alone and she also has included some really interesting inside photos by Stuart McFarlane. The one I liked best was an incredulous Dennis kicking off on tour against Ronald McDonald !
I have never met Wenger but I would be fascinated to meet him because he has an extraordinarily wide view of his role. I didn’t get a chance to see the game at Anfield but saw a discussion on ESPN where the loathsome Craig Burley mentioned the contenders for the league- and how poor they were- without even including Arsenal. Wenger believes people go to the Emirates to see Arsenal win but also to have a wonderful experience. I’m not sure many other managers see the second part of that task as being down to them , certainly not Moaninho. That may be his undoing at a club with the heritage of United.
I couldn’t agree more with TTG @51.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>