Watched the match yesterday down the pub, with an old friend (also a Gooner) who I haven't seen in a while. Overall I really enjoyed it - I remember when I returned from the toilet at one point it was 81 minutes in and I thought, "Surely we haven't held out this long?"
It had the potential to be a great match but Michael Oliver ruined it. Originally when Trossard got his second yellow I thought it was for the barge, because the kick away looked almost like he was trying to continue play. Either way it seemed harsh to me, as Trossard wasn't a persistent offender for his prior yellow. Besides that, neither Doku nor Haaland were booked for obvious infractions, especially Haaland, whose throwing of the ball at Gabriel's head definitely warranted a punishment. If you're going to go by the letter of the law for Trossard, fine - but if you don't do it for other players, that makes fans feel aggrieved.
At the end of the day, City ended up happier with a point than we were, which days a lot about how the two clubs have started to develop. Frankly, City should be happy with all the points they can get if this FFP investigation goes against them. On the other hand, if you'd offered me a draw at the Etihad, if for no other reason than to prevent City from running away too soon in the season, I'd have taken it - even soon after Trossard's dismissal. City had the capability to take all three points from that position, so to have prevented them from doing that, and to almost hold them out completely, is a good indicator that we're not the team we used to be.
A scrappy win against Spurs with two key players missing, a hard fought draw away to Atalanta, and then denied a win at the death at the Etihad after playing a full half with ten men - here's hoping these results are indicators of what's to come.
Now that the dust has settled
posted on 23/9/24
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 2 minutes ago
The durability of the team at the moment is very impressive. We are not playing brilliantly at the moment but we are getting results which bodes well. Hopefully if we can keep going we will get Odegaard and Merino back and we can start to kick on. We are not as free flowing as we would like to be but it will come the evidence is there in the second half of the season.
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* second half of last season
posted on 23/9/24
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 55 minutes ago
Giving Haaland a yellow card in the 98th minute would have definitely swung the game in Arsenal’s favour
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At what point did I say that? At that point of the game it made no difference to the outcome - but think about accumulation of yellow cards and subsequent bans. I'm not angling for that, but it's what happens, rightly, when you break the rules.
posted on 23/9/24
Haha, Boris making an idiot of himself again.
Funny thing is, some are saying Trossard should have been booked for the foul before the kickaway, what Haaland did earlier to Saliba didn't get a booking and was far more aggressive. Haaland could easily have picked up 4 yellows that game. But we all know about the two tier refs.
posted on 23/9/24
City got 3 yellow cards and no one knows why
posted on 23/9/24
wenger got sent to the stands for kicking a waterbottle.....pap kung fu kicked a chair and the officials were silent
posted on 23/9/24
When it comes to Pep, the refs love to Kung Fu pander
posted on 23/9/24
The amount of surrounding the ref and dissent by City was mad as well. How City only got 3 bookings is a complete joke. Bernardo, Haaland and Dias could have all been sent off for their multiple offences across the 90. Ederson charging out of his goal to abuse the ref . Must be why he was later so weak when Gabriel scored, the poor lad must have tired himself out with his angry outburst.
posted on 23/9/24
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 2 hours, 39 minutes ago
City got 3 yellow cards and no one knows why
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Presumably your boy Oliver isn't paid to book City players?
posted on 23/9/24
comment by The Califiori Mop (U8959)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 2 hours, 39 minutes ago
City got 3 yellow cards and no one knows why
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Presumably your boy Oliver isn't paid to book City players?
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That doesn't make any sense
posted on 23/9/24
How do you evaluate Lewis-Skelly’s caution Boris?