Arsenal News » Other sites review the players: we review the refs

By Walter Broeckx

Want a player ranking after a game?  Don’t worry there are 84 trillion sites that do it, and that is just for Arsenal.

But how many sites do reviews of referee performances match by match, and then use the “Hey-let’s-injure-your-players” break to summarise?

There is of course only one place in the Galaxy for such a review: UNTOLD ARSENAL.  It is what we are here for.  All the stuff no one else would ever think if doing within even while out walking the dog.  So, off we go.

At Goodison Park I can’t remember who the ref was and that is always a good sign for the ref. This means that he didn’t screw up on the major decisions. So no complaints about that game.

Arsenal – Portsmouth then. A goal given to Portsmouth which over here on the continent would have been disallowed. But as the game is played in England the goal stood. If you challenge for the ball in the 6 yard box area you have to avoid contact with the keeper so the ref could have disallowed it. But as we were far better it didn’t matter in the end.

On to United. I think I have made my opinion on the ref clear. For those who like to read it again, just look it up over here. Bad refereeing decisions that all went United’s way. Penalty on Arshavin, penalty on Van Persie, Rooney throwing himself, the kicking at every Arsenal player on the field by Fletcher without a card. But we must also admit that it was our own player who headed their second goal in our own goal. Bad day at work for Mike Dean.

Manchester City then. Very poor ref’s decisions. The dangerous tackle from Adebayor on Cesc could haven been a leg breaker and the ref should have given him at least a yellow card. The stamp on the face of Robin Van Persie also not seen by the ref. The FA banned him afterwards but on the field it cost us 3 points. Adebayor should have been off the field and not be participating in their 10 minutes goal spell. I’m convinced that with a ref who took action after the first dangerous tackle from Adebayor and who would have sent him off we always would have won the game over there.

Not much to report on the Wigan game except that the ref allowed some strong challenges on the edge, or over, towards Cesc. Lucky he didn’t get injured badly. No result changing decisions from the ref.

The Fulham game was not a bad game for the ref as I recall it. So not much to report. Good job from Atkinson.

When Blackburn came to the Emirates there were a few talking points about the ref. The foul he awarded to Blackburn which lead to the first goal was not a foul but it didn’t seem to be important until they scored from it. On the other hand Blackburn could have had a penalty in the second half. Well I’m generous and give them the penalty so we won 6-3.

When Birmingham scored at the Emirates I was really wondering if the rules had changed and I wasn’t noticed of it. A clear foul on Manone who was impeded in his six yard area by Larsson wasn’t given and so they could score a goal. Like I said before a keeper going for the ball there can not be touched or challenged. Those are the rules. Look it up, Mr. Probert.

Up to nearby West Ham. I could make it short. Ref Foy handed 2 points to West Ham all by him self. First he gave a foul against Diaby and it was clear for all to see that Diaby had played the ball and that afterwards the West Ham player just ran in to Diaby and so they fell down. Bad decision which cost us the first goal. But there was worse to come. Carlton Cole, you know some honest English guy who doesn’t dive, felt the heavy breathing of Song in his neck and he just fell to floor because he saw a clover with four leaves which brings you luck as is believed in my country and… it did. The ref gave a ridiculous penalty and we lost 2 points.

On came our favourite game of the season. The ref didn’t make a big impact on the score line but could have given a red card against Bentley for his dangerous tackle on Vermaelen. For the rest not a bad game from the ref.

And finally the Wolverhampton game. We could once again have had a penalty but for some strange reason refs don’t give us a penalty this season. I think the reason is called P & P which stands for press and pundits. But at the end, again, it didn’t mattered because we just out scored the opposition.

After all one could say that in the games we did not win, the ref had a negative influence on proceedings. But taken in the whole I can live with it.. but not if we should lose the league by a few points. Then I know where to find those points.

IMPORTANT UPDATE…

MAKING THE ARSENAL: The novel that describes the foundation of the modern Arsenal 100 years ago is available through www.emiratesstadium.info and via Amazon.  However Amazon appear to have sold out of their copies already, and are showing “waiting for stock” again.  You can get quick delivery from the above link – and have the book signed by the author if you want.   We have sent Amazon more stock – and if you are on their site, please do review the book.

WOOLWICH ARSENAL: The day to day activities – and the fight for survival – of our club 100 years ago, recorded on the daily blog: www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk Today:  How many games can you lose and still win the league.

(c) Hamilton House Mailings plc 2009.  This article may not be reprinted in whole or part without written permission of the copyright owners and full acknowledgment of the author and UNTOLD ARSENAL.  All enquiries to Tony@Hamilton-House.com or call (during UK office hours) 01536 399 013.