Thought they were gonna get away with that for a sec. James clearly scooped it away with his arm, correct call.
No booking for Salah for kicking the ball away, or for Fabinho for deliberately stopping counter attacks. Correct call to give a penalty but some consistency would be nice.
To be fair, no booking for kicking the ball away is consistent. Referees are always bottling those decisions. Taylor should have got the players out of the box for the pen sooner too, everyone knows they're deliberately trying to delay it.
Their fans have been saying he's the best option for a good couple of weeks, but that's the issue: he's the best option for them, yet are they the best option for him? The only job that is realistically off the table for the next year is the Italy job, as Mancini's extended his contract until 2026
I don't think that's the correct decision. He doesn't give it live and the ball bounces off James' leg and onto his arm, then he moves it. It's not in an unnatural position, for me. Clear and obvious error? I don't think so.
Penalty for me. arm stops ball crossing the line. Maybe if he wasn't on the goal line but stopping the ball with hand/arm when on the line. That's what VAR is for because Taylor missed it.
Location is irrelevant. It's either a handball or it isn't. The ball crossing the line only matters for the punishment, which had to be a red if he gives it.
OK it's handball. Location is all surely, if not preventing a goal the benefit of the doubt could be given. Anyway come on PNP it would have been given against us so why should I care it's Chelsea FFS.
Definitely a penalty but think a red is a farce ... it hit his knee first so not sure where his arm should be...it looks accidental to me so should be a penalty only imo.
Banned...don't give a **** that I ain't a mod...you are banned...for ever...so please kindly follow the instructions below...
A lot of you seem convinced Arteta's going to get sacked soon. Unfortunately for us, I don't think he will. They're going to wait until October/November time, assess how we're doing and sack him then. When we'll probably be out of all competitions and won't have anything to play for. Our squad building for the last decade hasn't been amazing, but it's been catastrophically poor in the past 5 years especially. Combining bad recruitment with an apathetic ownership, letting good players run their contracts down, gifting excessive wages and overspending on mediocre players, as well as a series of substandard managerial appointments, and it's not rocket science to see why we're in this position. What I will say is there are rumours coming out that the Arsenal hierarchy are split on Arteta. Some believe he's been supported a lot, he's had enough time and now there has to be a change. Others believe that circumstances (players getting COVID, injuries...), as well as a very hard start to the season, mean he needs a bit longer. If these rumours are true, then it's the beginning of the end for Arteta. Leaks like this usually never end well. I see no possible way he stays the course.
