The editing annoyed me. That first 'penalty shout' was bollocks. He didn't even appeal at the time and they just showed a slo-mo from one angle as if they were trying to make it look like a penalty. Then there wasn't a second angle. I didn't think he touched him. The Oxalde one was obviously a foul but the ball fell to another Arsenal player who had a shot, so what's the problem? The ref clearly waved to play an advantage at the time, which wasn't shown on the highlights. A penalty isn't a reward, it's a consolation for being unfairly denied a chance in the box. They still had the chance, which was as good as a penalty, thanks to the ref's advantage. The Jelavic one looked like an awful decision at the time but having seen it again he was just being a prick trying to win a free kick by getting across the defender. I hate that. Just play the game ffs. That said the ref gave all the little free kicks their way including an obvious dive from Giroud. Proper Suarez style with arched back in midair. One of the few free kicks he gave us, early in the second half, he waited for an advantage and then when it came and Livermore was running at goal he gave the free kick Yeah this is what annoyed me. They mentioned it but didn't show some of our best chances. In fact they only showed the Livermore one.
What a surprise, the Jela one was a foul and Arsenal were given much, much softer free kicks throughout the first half, it wasn't just the Jela one he got wrong but virtually every decision went their way and he treated identical situations differently for either team. It was very reminiscent of our game against United. On one of the pen shouts he played advantage, haven't seen the other one again but it didn't look like a pen from where I was. To be honest the game was killed by the officiating as we deserved to be level at least in the first half but 2-0 down when you've played well is very hard to get back from. When the 3rd went in the game was completely done.
Brady wasn't fouled for the penalty he got against Norwich (I think) but it was given, soft fouls are given & it was only a while ago that people on here were complaining about our players not being "cute enough," then when one of them does what every other team does, they are called a girl because the foul wasn't given. This is an example from the Palace thread:
Ozil definitely dived it was right in front f me, same with Giroud, both went over like a sack of spuds. The ref was dire, but I'm not getting in to specifics else I'll be writing a 100 page dossier.
I agree Harper just didn't look interested, tries to be to casual, and then nearly gave them a fourth, what the hell was he thinking about?
Ironically, despite coming in two down at half time, that first half was some of the best football we've played this season. Quite what we were doing playing Matty as a lone striker in the second half was beyond me, but it pretty much put us out of the game. Well, that an Arsenal being excellent in the second half.
Agreed, although I don't think it would have mattered how or we played in the 2nd half, we'd have lost. It clearly wasn't working so Brucie had to try something different, against the Blunts it worked, but I don't think we had anything that could have upset the Arse yesterday. Just a class apart from us once they realised who they are. They seemed to rediscover their mojo in that 2nd half, which on the brightside might mean they hold onto 4th, just hope they are over confidant at Wembley and us starting with Sagbo, Aluko and Super Matty confuses and confounds them until we have a comfortable 3 goal cushion. I can't help thinking that Ramsey being Welsh is such a cruel joke on the young lad. He would be awesome to watch in a World Cup final. Such a waste.
I thought Arsenal was the best team to play at the KC this season, admittedly after a discussion with my wife. I thought for periods in the first half we matched them and occasionally out played them. I haven't heard Wenger give too many compliments to other teams in the bottom half of the table but he said the first half was difficult and praised his defence. The second half was about protecting our goal difference, we're still not mathematically safe. Livermore and a couple more players in the summer and we may do well again next season.
I thought we played fantastic. Some of the best football I've seen us play. The first goal was class, so hard to defend against. The second was a foul. After that it's hard if you go chase you can get beat 5 or 6.
I thought we might have reverted to 3-5-2 yesterday. Playing Elmo as RB is always a risk - against the top teams it's just asking for trouble. However, it's the recent poor form of Figueroa that forced SB's hand to play him there as Rosey is needed for LB. Bold move by the manager that back-fired but if we'd have taken one of our chances in the first 30 mins who knows.....
It's annoying, isn't it - we either have to play Elmo and Rosey out of position at RB and LB respectively, or play them in their proper RM and RB roles and risk having Figueroa on the field. Frankly, Figueroa's confidence is so shot that playing Elmo at RB is the lesser of the two evils. If only Dudge had got fit - I thought he looked like a real player in the making before his troubles.
And striker. Taking Jelavic off so early makes me think Long's injury might keep him out for a few weeks.
