Defender tries to cut across the attacker and shepherd the ball but loses out to a stronger bloke, simple as that IMHO.
I'd be annoyed if we conceded a goal like that. But it would easily be prevented if Flamini was stronger on the ball.
It was a foul. But as we've had a fair few ****e decisions go against us this season, having one for you is only fair...
That is why the game is ****ed, I mean how many times have we seen a defender put himself between the ball and the attacker with no intention of playing it. How many times have we thought '**** me that's obstruction surely?' only for the ref to ignore it? Diame just thought today 'I'm not getting obstructed so get the **** out of the way if you are not going to play at the ball'. About bloody time too IMHO.
Exactly Diame's run is dead straight he has 2 defenders behind him on his left and 1 in front of him. As he is the process of skipping past the defender in front of him one of the two defenders behind him has a quick pull at his shirt which slows him down. The other defender can then quickly get in front and across him. It's a classic case of blocking off and shepherding but unfortunately (For them) Diame was too strong for all of them.
Absolutely no dispute that Diame reached up and pulled Flamini back by his shirt. Replays show it clearly. Should have been called. But how many times do you see defenders grabbing hold of attackers in the box on set pieces etc and getting away with it. Today we got away with one and Diames little chip over the keeper was total class. Diame is a beast!! Good game...fair result.
About time we benefited from a questionable decision - great finish from Mo as well - what a bargain he is proving to be
If another defender hadn't pulled at Diame he wouldn't have got in a position to cut across him and block him off (Which he did as he came from behind Diame and then ran across him). IMHO it a curse on the modern game that it's perfectly acceptable for a defender to position himself in such a way that an attacker cannot get anywhere near the ball even when the defender has no intention of actually playing the ball himself even though it is actually obstruction IIRC.
It was a foul, but it's about time a bit of luck came our way considering the absolute **** we've had to put up with so far. I've no sympathy for Arsenal or Flamini.
Definite foul IMO. Had his arm across Flamini's chest and pulled back. Think of it this way; would we have claiming a foul if it was against us? No matter anyway, it was given, and about bloody time we got a refereeing decision in our favour.
If Diame commited a foul then he should have had 2 before it. Both of which can be seen it the picture higher up. 1: He was tugged back (You can actually see that happening in the picture). 2: Flamini then changed his running line to obstruct Diame (In the picture he is along side Flamini so they only way for him to be behind is for Flamini to run across him).
I actually wouldn't as it was piss poor defending. Smash it into row Z if you have to but blocking off on the edge of you own box is asking for trouble.
