Jack It In – It’s Arsenal’s Turn To Grab The Points
Oct 14th, 2016 by 'holic
I think the correct introduction runs along the lines of … Thank goodness that interminable international break is over and we can get back to real football. I honestly haven’t checked but I think I probably say that after most of these poorly organised shambles’.
Of course this time we return to Premier League action after displaying a rich vein of form before the squad departed for the four corners of the globe. (Is it flat after all?). You couldn’t refresh Twitter quickly enough to avoid mentions of a five match winning run in the league. Nor the cautionary mentions of us picking up just one point from our last four matches against Swansea.
It’s a time of year that hasn’t always been kind to us (though wait until we get to November!) and we are facing our current bogey team. Has that got our feet back on the ground? Not me, I’m happy to say. Our performances, more than our results, lifted most of us before the break, and the same personnel should be available for the boss to call on. They have developed good habits and an exciting style of play has returned after quite the absence, if we are being honest.
Of course we are only ever one bad result away from seeing the old wounds open up but despite our recent record against the visitors the odds are heavily in our favour. Petr Cech and the back four pick themselves, surely? Although Francis Coquelin is reportedly fit again it probably isn’t the best time to restore him to the side with Granit Xhaka and Santi Cazorla knitting together impressively.
Theo Walcott showed he has learned a lot over the summer, preserving his energy in meaningless internationals so he is ready to be a leading exponent of our pressing game from front to back. Alex Iwobi is back having scored for Nigeria so with confidence buoyed. Then there is Mesut. He played just half a game for Germany the other night, but assured Arsene that he is fit and raring to go this weekend. He is the pivot of a wonderful front four who should again supplement Alexis, while there may be time for Lucas to get some Premier League experience as the match progresses.
If there is a concern then it must be for how long can we continue to play that pressing game for ninety-five minutes, twice a week, for the next seven months. The squad will be crucial, so news that Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud remain in need of further conditioning is a worry. On the plus side Carl Jenkinson returned to action with the U23s against Southampton, and Per Mertesacker and Gabriel are progressing well. What isn’t clear is just what is going on with the likes of Debuchy and Sanogo, last seen clutching boarding passes for Bermuda.
Our bogey side, and I cannot stop my bunged up beak from reminding me of that, arrive on the crest of a slump. They very quickly jettisoned Francesco Guidolin having picked up just four points from the opening seven matches, and have surprisingly plumped for the former USA national coach, Bob Bradley, as his replacement. He has a reputation for producing hard-working teams, and certainly Swansea have been exactly that in the last couple of seasons.
The ‘holic pound
Will the ‘new manager factor’ kick in and provide an instant panacea for all that has ailed Swansea in recent weeks? We can certainly expect a side where all eleven players will be keen to impress the new man to cement their places. I can see them proving much more difficult to rip apart than Chelsea and Basel in our last two home matches. Bergkamp the man knows exactly what I am tipping for this one. I have found 2-1 to the Arsenal at 17/2, which seems pretty good value.
Tonight’s Drinks
There will be a temptation to discuss the successful appeal by Ched Evans earlier today (Friday). Please bear in mind at all times that tonight he is legally an innocent man, and confine any discussion to the relevant points of law, should you know them.
It is worrying that a financial reward unearthed ‘new evidence’ not directly relating to the evening in question, and that ‘evidence’ was accepted and formed the basis for a successful appeal. This is probably the only area that you can discuss in the drinks for legal reasons. Please bear that in mind.
Please also be respectful of the fact that not one individual has emerged from this trial with their reputation intact, and very possibly one of them should have done.
I’ll leave it there and wish you a great day tomorrow. I’m excited as I’m meeting up with a number of the team from A Bergkamp Wonderland for a hipster burger and a glass of elderflower presse. I’ll see some of you for a proper drink afterwards in the usual place.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
97 Responses to “Jack It In – It’s Arsenal’s Turn To Grab The Points”
Dandelion and burdock please
Proper old skool, Cynic. I saw your mail, thanks. will respond on Sunday, if I survive tomorrow! 😉
glad to see you’re on the mend from what ailed you last week, holic. it’s been a busy one for me, thanks to the interlull for giving me little to distract.
i’ll take 2-1, though even better would be 3-1, given our newfound front foot.
(slipping cynic a mcallan 18 behind the burdock).
Nice to have a fine Holic preview on a Friday night before a 3 o’cock kick off. Of course I’ll take your cautious 2-1 but after the last few games, the international break notwithstanding, I really do hope for something a bit more impressive. It’s time to put down a marker.
Evening H
We struggled mightily to get the 3pts last time we returned from the Interlull against the Saints,how important for team morale was Santi’s late late penalty.
Hopefully lesson learnt from that game,and we start on the front foot,against as you rightly point out,something of a mini bogey side for us.
Whether we will have the early legs after all the travel the boys have done in the past week,is open to question.
Bradley is noted as a manager for his defensive organization,so i don’t think Swansea are going to be too ambitious,unless of course we make them come out and play by getting the early goals.
We will dominate possession,but as Dortmund found out this evening even 75% overall possession counts for nothing if you don’t convert your chances.
Having said that,with Swansea in a poor vein of form,i am expecting us to garner the 3pts.
By what score i have no idea,but with home advantage,i will be mightily disappointed if we drop points tomorrow.
Good post holic.
Mines a Guinness.
I’m working on getting a date for me and nelly to see you sir.
Good man Horse! 🙂
I’ve not had a decent dandelion and burdock since Corona went out of business.
merciful hour esso
what a fuckin line up
ya lucky fuckin bollix
jealousy does not do it justice
top man
Improper drink, washed down with something other than a glass of elderflower. 😉
UTA.
dot dash
Fuckin honestly favourite single i still have
wire
one oftheee most influential bands
b side
s o. L o v I n g
R
play near every day
.
glad ye had a goodun big man
fuck
we’re all knockin on
Cheers, Holic !
A meagre 2-1 against the swans ?
Well, I’m going to stick my swanny neck out and say 4-0 – although I realise, with regret, that that will mean your pound has disappeared up the Swanee, or Swansea, or something …….. ?
Girls
Girls ?
arse
Evening one and all. Fine preview.
This will all come down to one thing? Which Arsenal side actually turns up. We have ridden our luck a bit of late but there is no reason why we should not come away with all three points. As also highlighted above, it may well come down to if we are ruthless or toothless.
Work commitments mean I’m not there tomorrow. My ticket will be elsewhere. Enjoy boys and girls. Here’s to Trev’s 4-0.
feck
Love your optimism, Trev. 4 nil after taking just one point out of the last 12 against these fowl Welshies? I’m just hopeful of a win, with a one-goal margin most likely. Most hopefully that everyone turns up fit to play after their travels.
1-0 to the good guys. And please score it early, my ticker won’t take any more Burnleys.
We’re a different side now.
Mustafi has made us safer at the back with his pace and agression. He also gets the ball moving much quicker than the BFG.
The central midfield looks stronger and has much better options.
Alexis in the central role up front had given us the ability to win the ball and run away from the opposition defence. We have lacked that ability for a long time.
Iwobi looks like he good be a terrific player – instant control, smooth passing out of his stride, strength and pace.
There should be plenty of improvement still to come too, as these players in these positions have so far only seen half a dozen games.
And last but not least, New Theo. If he can maintain his new found determination and willingness to work for the team, he completes a new style attack of genuine pace and mobility.
Last season’s home game against Swansea was, we hoped, going to see a big backlash after the pathetic capitulation against Man Utd a few days before. In the event, it proved no better than the Old Trafford performance and those two performances were the cause of the fan discontent that marred the rest of the season.
We are different now though.
That is why we’ll win 4-0. ????
He good = he could
We’ve never beaten Swansea 4-0. In fact, we’ve never scored more than three against them, and then only twice, 1980 in the League Cup (won 3-1 at Highbury) and 2015 in the League (3-0 at the Liberty Stadium). Seven of our 21 games against Swansea have ended 2-1, four won by us, three by them.
btw, it is one win in our past four games against Swansea, not one point. We won at their place last year with Ollie G, Kos and Joel Campbell scoring. Ollie G’s was the 2,000th Arsenal goal of the Wenger era.
Aah, one win not one point. I thought one point out of 12 seemed unlikely but who am I to question a ‘holicism?
Okay, you’ve nearly convinced me Trev. But I can’t go past 3-0, sorry. More likely 3-1.
So I’ve now suggested 1-0, 3-0 and 3-1. That’s an average of 2.33333(recurring)-1. Which is 2-1 to the nearest whole goal. Which is what ‘holic said.
I will miss this one tomorrow and the CL game before returning from the USA for Boro.Its a wretched time here. Even if it’s on in Honolulu it will start at 4am.I hope to wake to good news –better than 2-1. I think we might do this one 3-0, but what really matters after the Interlull is a win. Swansea have been resilient at our place in the last three years but no better than that. Ashley Williams is gone and Flappy owes us a couple of bloopers..
The mood of the bar is cautious optimism, apart from that incorrigibly optimistic, glass overflowing fella, Trev, and that is an appropriate mode in which to approach this match.
Respect the opposition, play to your maximum ability, reap your reward.
Go win, Arsenal.
Off in 15mins, bus replacement day ugh.
4-0 would be great, any 3 points will do but please not a Southampton/ Burnley encore performance, we can do better than that.
COYRs
go to a supermarket m’lud
got it straight from a hawaiian horses mouth
there exists there a delicacy
so exotic and loved
a dozen odds varieties
escaped to sate the locals
-spam
with jalapeno being a standout
apparently
here’s to us doin a trev
UP THE ARSENAL
the spam fritters are on me !
just pick the hairs out
effin complainers
jeez
i’m craving spam now
my local sells it
well i say local
it’s a fuckin 3day camel ride
yup – provisions behind the bar
curiously no longer essentials for rural living
staple foods , hardware and stuff
now the essentials are drunk man’s needs
tinned meat , sweets and crisps
and the key for the gas bottle cage round the back
hardly touristy
🙁
i blame everything for this
*puffs on clay pipe*
*saddles transportation*
.
“to the bar ! and don’t spare the donkey ! “
might just make the second half
iffin i get me ass in gear
boom boom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtxbM7-jAD0
as if it were needed , Mr Roy
Random fact: In the 10 Premier League game between Arsenal and Swansea, the home team has only won three times.
Greetings to all Gunners in the Gunnerverse.
Top preview from the Top Guv’nor. I definitely go with the holic pound @2-1.
‘Though tough they come in,
Ruffled their “feathers” will be’.
First time for everything, Ned ??
Come on.
It will be 4-1. (Two goals will be scored by Theo alone.)
Sorry holic!
Come ON!!!
Swansea’s shorts kook like they may fall off.
Is there a steam or a European station televising this game by any chance?
Really struggling for a stream today if anyone can help ?
Get in, Walcott!!!!
We really do have to pass it in….
😀
Many streams : http://woop.io/view/free-live-streaming-Arsenal-FC-Swansea-City-soccer.html
Theo again!!!
Get In!!
Bad error for Xhaka…
Nevermind… Come ON!!
Chaka lets them in. Swansea are lucky on this ground. Unnecessarily letting them in and good chance for a fifth straight clean sheet gone.
Bad bloody refereeing again.. Walcott got one in the eye and the ref doesn’t even give a free kick..Grrr!!!
Almost 2-2, Arsenal as lackadaisical as usual. Come on!
Ozil what a fantastic volley for goal, 3-1. Sorry Holic.
Arsenal’s hara kiri defence, hah, almost let in Swansea again.
Swansea score again 3-2. Shit.
Barrow is fast and Monreal is having a mare. Coq coming on, for Iwobi who had a good game, will hopefully strengthen our defence. Red for Xhaka!
Chadli!
COME ON!
Ox and Gibbs on for Alexis and Ozil, much needed substitutions.
Watching Spurs, Second?
Both games at once.
Walcott has missed so many chances. He could have had four.
Final whistle. Thank God for the three points.
NEver in doubt!
😀
Great day for us, Second, Spurs finish 1-1.
Drama.
And City draw. So joint first for the first time this season.
It was nice to talk to myself, where is everyone today
City ahead on goal difference only and spuds showing their true form..
Not a bad start to the weekend.
😀
Worst red in recent history! A sideway trip to stop play is never a red. There was no scissoring nor crunch neither, wtf! 3 pts up yours, Moss. KA-BOOM!!!
Joint top! Excellent stuff.
I suspect that’s the last we’ll see of Xhaka for a while. Given the narrow advantage we were holding, the importance of the three points and the relatively dense fixture list coming up, I admit that is the stupidest thing I’ve seen an Arsenal player do for some time. (Giroud in Zagreb last year perhaps?)
Form and fortune aside, anyone else worried about lack of height in the koscielny-mustafi pairing?
Kostafi completely lost Baston who scored their second, neither was anywhere near the scorer. Our defence with the exception of Bellerin had a really tough time. The positive is that we are seeing games through and getting three points.
Alexis is exceptional. Today he looked tired but there was no lessening of effort. Walcott and Iwobi were good though Theo missed some sitters but he has definitely improved over last year.
The way we are playing the same team game after game, we will be knackered with important fixtures coming up in Nov against Spurs and Manure. Need some team rotation.
Haven’t seen the match. Followed the comments here.
Pundits on BBC1’s Final Score much exercised by the Xhaka red card. Presumably synthetic outrage since they have a contractual obligation to get worked up about something. Curiously little prominence given to the Tinies’ slide to 3rd.
We seem to have got our Arsenal back – win and make it look like hard work.
Keep on doing the first, lads; less bothered either way about the second.
Second in the table. End of. Roll on Reading on Tuesday and a chance to give a run-out to Xhaka’s replacement for Saturday – Coquelin / Elneny I presume.
COYG
PS Checking PhysioRoom.com I see that we’re down to 5th in the Premier League injury table. Maybe we haven’t got our Arsenal back.
Xhaka gets a red card every 23 games a season, on average. Known problem.
Pangloss
Actually it’s Ludogorets on Wednesday and Xhaka is available.
I saw the game on CNBC here at some unearthly hour. You West Ciast and Antipodean posters have my admiration.
I don’t agree with the criticism of Xhaka completely. He took one for the team and Moss overreacted with a red. A trip on the touchline on halfway with umpteen Arsenal players back is never a red unless the trip was violent. Wenger is apparently not going to appeal but I’d be interested if he did. It was a yellow and no more . It distorted the last twenty minutes . We might have won more easily but ended up defending though Theo came close twice ( once was a missed sitter but he was unlucky to hit the post)
Nacho had a new one torn for him by a lad I had not heard of before- the lad Xhaka tripped. He showed signs of fallibility today just as he did against Liverpool. Iwobi is great going forward but doesn’t give him great protection. Wenger made good changes today. Gibbs eased the pressure on Nacho, Ox made some strong runs and Coquelin was more assured than Xhaka in clearing up in front of the back four. Le Boss doesn’t get credit from the ‘ he doesn’t do tactics ‘brigade but he did today.
I think Mustafi looked excellent.He and Kos look a good partnership but there is an anomaly.They had four free headers which Cech saved more easily than some keepers would but this was because there was little pressure on the ball. The second goal was a pull back by Barrow and was swept in by the striker. It’s hard to defend if the winger keeps getting to the byline. We will need to be tighter in midfield nagainst better teams. Swansea move the ball well but we should have annihilated them today . Props to Ozil on his birthday. He took his goal brilliantly.
We should have been outta sight.
Showboating when 2-0 up and again when 3-1 up let them back into the game and lifted their spirits. There is no place for that nonsense unless you are 5-0 up with 20 minutes to go. It annoys the opposition and distracts from the job of scoring another goal.
TTG sums the red card up perfectly, as ever:
“I don’t agree with the criticism of Xhaka completely. He took one for the team and Moss overreacted with a red. A trip on the touchline on halfway with umpteen Arsenal players back is never a red unless the trip was violent. Wenger is apparently not going to appeal but I’d be interested if he did. It was a yellow and no more . It distorted the last twenty minutes. “
I knew Moss was shit. Today he was shitter than shit.
Xhaka, his first half brain fart apart looks exactly what we need in MF, including the cynical trip on the halfway line. For years we’ve had it done to us and been like pussies when broken on at speed by opposition players. If that was a red card, then Taylor should have been executed for his lunge on Ozil early in the second half.
TTG. Bollocks. What’s most annoying is that I checked what the next fixture was. Hey ho.
I hadn’t seen that Wenger won’t appeal. I can see the attraction of not giving further scope to the “Arsenal always whingeing about the referees” argument, but I would rather not see the rebirth of the “Look at the number of sendings-off under Wenger” story. Presumably the club would be at some financial risk if they put in a failed appeal.
Bring ’em on. Who cares whether it’s Reading or Ludogorets, or even Middlesbrough.
COYG
PS Someone told me there was more joy at Ashburton Grove over praise from one former critic than from ninety-nine AKBs. Hanged if I can remember who, or indeed whether it’s relevant.
PPS Firefox spillchucker doesn’t like “whingeing”. It suggests “whining”.
Just a simple comment without getting over analytical.
That wasn’t the best performance of the season, but it was comfortably the most fun and the most entertaining. Atmosphere superb. Cock ups galore. A complete thunder bastard of a goal from Mesut. Ridiculous red card. Theo doing everything but score a hat trick.
What about that run from Iwobi second half? Five men beaten in the area?
More than slightly pissed. Very happy. Can’t wait until Wednesday.
Come on you Gunners!
Better team by a country mile and STILL we struggle to finish off a game. A drawn game would not have surprised, and a loss not beyond the realms.
I can’t agree that the red was undeserved. It was a tackle from behind designed to bring a player down which constitutes serious foul play bordering on violent conduct. An absolute Xhaka Xhocker. It’s not like the player hasn’t been there before.
But countryman is right, if you forget the frustrations it was an entertaining 90 minutes with all the thrills of football on display. And made all the more enjoyable by the two above us both dropping points.
And Theo motm. Something I thought unlikely I would ever write!
I share the frustrations many have with the BBC. At 5.18 pm on the Premier League thread that world class ex player or ex world class player Kevin Kilbane ( or current world class idiot pundit) claimed that Ozil scored with a shinner. I haven’t watched it umpteen times but if that was a shinner it was the best hit shinner I’ve ever seen.
I’m in Bath’s camp rather than Chris on Xhaka. He will have to adjust to PL football but we’ve lacked that devil by and large since Vieira left us.
If you give red cards for cynical fouls no Serie A game would ever finish with more than 7 -a-side. What worried me more about him was that he needs to improve the speed ( definitely not the quality ) of his distribution. I’d like to see him playing with Elneny at some stage because we don’t want to burn Santi out. I think Coquelin replaced him well yesterday and will play in the next three matches. Playing Reading will use up one of the matches before we play the Spuds.
But I do agree Theo was MOTM. He could have had five, deserved three and his movement was excellent. I’m almost as convinced as others that he really has changed for the better, permanently, but I will still reserve judgement.
Xhaka played the man not the ball, TTG. He couldn’t have reached the ball with a snooker rest. About as cynical as you can get. Note also that Barrow (Swansea’s most dangerous player) was limping thereafter and subbed about 10 minutes later.
No way was Mesut’s goal a shinning. It was as good a contact as I can remember since van pussy, and before him a magic volley from Sir Bob.
I notice most here are calling the Xhaka lunge a ‘trip’. In fact he kicked Barrow’s leg just under the knee and I imagine most would be yelling for a red if one of ours had been brought down in similar fashion. It was right in front of AW, so no surprise he won’t be appealing.
Just landed on the next to last leg of a round the world jaunt with two weeks in China and Hong Kong in between. Boarded at HK at kickoff, so looking forward to Holic report. Will the Xhaka shocker be a one match or three match ban?
Chris
No question it was cynical and no question it was a yellow card. Wenger’s delightful comment that ‘ it was a dirty yellow and the referee gave a bright red ‘ summed it up. It was cynical but not in a position that prevented a goal and it was just a trip. He caught the trailing leg . If he’d kicked him he would have injured him. The lad went down like a sack of potatoes but came back quicker than ever. I think Moss allowed himself to be influenced by the Swansea players who gave him an earful as he reached Xhaka.
Bayonne
Enjoy your trip. I’m heading back to San Francisco on Monday and London on Wednesday night. I will be at THOF on Saturday. As it was a straight red card it is a three game ban unfortunately . One game is the EFL Cup tie against Reading.
Nice to see we’re second on goal difference only, but I remember various posts in here a couple of seasons back, ridiculing Spurs fans for saying they were “joint top”. If the season finished now we wouldn’t win the title!
Still, nice to see us well in the mix.
Not a bad result ..against twelve men.
😀
Morning all. I’ve only seen the MOTD highlights but did listen to the radio commentary. I’m with Bath in that we should have been out of sight. The fact that we don’t put sides like Swansea to the sword may cost us one day. Nice to see Theo chip in with a couple of goals.
I’m very much with Chris re Xhaka. You can argue the toss all day whether the decision was right or wrong. What is indefensible is the stupidity of Xhaka. You can’t argue that it’s only a yellow because it’s on the sideline, on the halfway line and there were several defenders back. Then seek to justify it by saying he took one for the team. He had absolutely no need to make the tackle. He made no attempt to play the ball, he had absolutely no chance of getting the ball. It was effectively cheating. A deliberate breach of the rules. I can’t think of anything that can defend it. The fact that it reduces us to 10 men and gets him a ban just compounds the stupidity.
He needs to learn fast.
Ttg, I heard AW calling it a ‘dark’ rather than ‘dirty’ yellow. But club would be on thin ice with an appeal and the chance of a successful one does not seem to merit the risk of a longer ban.
The other thing that caught my ear from AW’s post-match press conference was the criticism of Ozil for not shooting more. That was at least the second time this season he has done it, and AW is most careful in what he says about individual players in public.
What Steve T said about Xhaka.
The fact that we don’t put sides like Swansea to the sword may cost us one day.
In recent seasons past it has done so, repeatedly. That it hasn’t so far this may be a sign that the team is more resilient than it was, or maybe we have just been lucky so far.
If that kind of trip is a red card and Moss is setting a new standard then it’s not just Serie A that will finish with less than 7-a-side.
Xhaka slid in to trip the player, there was no lunge, the studs weren’t up but he tripped the trailing leg with the side of his boot.
Cynical yes. Anywhere near the ball, no.
Intended to stop the winger breaking away, yes. Designed to stop a clear goal scoring opportunity, no. Designed to injure the player, no.
The player did limp off 10 minutes later but in the interim he was running around like a gazelle.
It was no more cynical than many of the trips that our ball players are subject to in every game some of which reap yellow cards or free kicks and many of which go unpunished.
This was a bizarre decision by an erratic referee notorious for inconsistency and bizarre decisions. Credit to the 10 men who ensured that we held on to our lead – a true Arsenal traditional quality. I would have expected our teams in recent years to concede at least an equaliser if not a brace.
Yes Chris, Feo was MoTM. It’s great to see him imposing himself on the opposition instead of bouncing off them. The lad’s balls have dropped, hopefully permanently.
He would only get a longer ban if the appeal was considered frivolous and it would not be that. Aguero fought his red card for elbowing without incurring further punishment, and that was about as frivolous as it gets.
Bath. Xhaka should not have given Moss a decision to make. He deserved a straight red for being a total twat.
Steve. Really? I, and most people around me on the North Bank, thought it was an excellent decision by an experienced player to take a yellow card for the team to prevent the excellent Barrow being away with 50 yards of clear grass in front of him.
Now you may have a Corinthian spirit that says that we are The Arsenal and we don’t do that sort of thing, but I have to say that is rather difficult when everyone else does it.
A response to this would be a sin bin – but we don’t have that in football. 95% of the time a yellow would have been shown. He was unlucky that this time it was a red and he will now pay the price.
If we had done this two or three times last year we might have won the league.
Countryman. Yes, really. Halfway line on the touchline? If we can’t defend from there then we deserve shooting.
howdy ‘holic howdy ‘holics
bit of a screen shouter
pointsisours 🙂
breakfast beers all round
UP THE ARSENAL
Interesting points on Xhaka debacle, I can see both points being valid in his situation.
One for the team etc and being a twat too, however I believe Bath nailed it for me:
If that kind of trip is a red card and Moss is setting a new standard then it’s not just Serie A that will finish with less than 7-a-side.
This was cynical foul end off hence a straight yellow, we see those kind of fouls every weekend in the PL and I have never seen a straight red for this sort of foul play.
Either way he needs to learn fast as Ref’s will be watching him closely from now on.
Three points in the bag that is all that matters.
Come On You Never Boring Gooners! 😀
Looks like I didn’t close my tag properly 🙁
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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 ? **
Trev 😀