As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
I have had it with the amount of time referees are allowing opposition teams to waste when they come to the Grove. Week in week out keepers are alloewed to walk all the way across the area to take goal kicks from the opposite side to where the ball went off. Hold on to the ball for longer than 6 seconds and seemongly no ref wants to take action. All this would stop if the ref just had a word, it's time to put an end to this blatant cheating please. Referee Phil Dowd saw what Kirkland was doing and wave him to play on three times before he eventually took 1 goal kick, but still no action was taken. Are the F.A trying to make us lose our unbeaten record at AG?
OK, and relax.
Jens was right to try and prove a point after taking the lead but yellow card was right my German friend.
What is it with referees and their yellow cards. Just found the stats and they read
Fouls Yellows
Arsenal 9 6
Wigan 15 3
Individual players seem to be getting harsh treatment too.
You're spot on. Yet another example of the double standards we have to put up with from referees. It's not a recent thing either. I remember Petit only needed to look at someone the wrong way and he'd get booked. I know Lehmann doesn't do himself any favours, but refs just seem to be waiting for an excuse to show him a card. Of course all this just gives the anti-Arsenal brigade in the TV media (Lineker, Andy Gray etc.) more ammunition. Funny isn't it? They criticise our kids for not being up for a "physical battle" (i.e. getting kicked all over the park), but when they do get stuck in, the same people start bleating about Arsenal's "disciplinary problems". We can't win.
Also why does everyone (Platt, Mcallister, Gray etc) say Henry let himself down? he was just letting off some steam and frustration? You can't grab the GK by the scruff of the neck when he is taking 20 secs to take a kick, so he has just wound him up a little. what are the saying "Your the best player in the world, so you can;t be human and show emotion"!?!?!? What a joke.
The reaction to Henry's rant at Kirkland has been completely over the top. It has created 10 times time the reaction to Tugays attempted leg breaking tackle on Cesc away to Blackburn a few weeks ago. How can that be right?
Henry didn't nut him or punch him. He shoued at him - big f*cking wow!! Kirkland had it coming. Apology? Apology my @rse! Are calls being made for Kirkland to aplogise for the 60,000 who faulke dotu money to watch a ganme that was massively ruined as a spectacle thanks to his antics.
And as for Gray and Keys on Sky saying you can't blame Wigan. You can't blame teams for making full use of the time permitted within the rules to take the sting out of the game. But teams visiting the Grove have overstepped the mark time and time again this season and gone beyond the rules. And if Jens booking was justified then Kirkland warranted 5 bookings in the match.
Dowd made some dodgy decisions which helped us win. But he made nuermous shocking decisions all round and clearly lost his grip on what should not have been a difficult game to ref.
