I’m pretty sure GT doesn’t actually understand the rules.

Arsenal fans have always been bonkers on this site. All the way back to the Carroll/Henderson/Adam/Downing days. Just completely deluded.

I know we're having a pop at Arsenal fans, but I think referees have always seemed to let things go for City or make mistakes for City that seem to be advantageous for them more often than other clubs.

We felt it when we were battling them for titles, now it's just Arsenal's turn. It's not anti-Arsenal though by any means.

That said, that first goal should never have happened when the referee basically took Walker out of the game. So not sure how they can be moaning today.

The funny thing about woe is me from Arsenal fans in relation to the reffing yesterday, is you could quite easily argue both goals shouldn't have counted.

The first was taken 15 yards further forward and played before Walker was back in position after being called over by the ref, and the second could easily be given as blocking/obstruction on Ederson on a different day, which I doubt VAR would intervene on.

comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted 36 seconds ago
That said, that first goal should never have happened when the referee basically took Walker out of the game. So not sure how they can be moaning today.
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Yep. And their second goal they had 3 players essentially just impeding Ederson - it was very borderline imo. But it's Arsenal who have been hard-done-by apparently.

If City get punished as the rightly should and it rules them out of the title race, do you think we can keep pace with Arsenal?

comment by Szoboss (U6997)

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I'd be tempted to keep the CB pairing together tbh. I'm a big believer in CB partnerships as the foundation of a solid defence so kind of want Konate and VVD to play together as much as possible. I do acknowledge that Konate's injury records makes that a risk though. And Quansah deserves minutes.

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Nah I'd definitely rest Konate, why take the risk. Quansah needs minutes, same with Gomez.

Also I'd play Gakpo in midfield - he's getting time on the left finally but playing him in front of Endo and Jones for a one-off should be fine. Only happening because Elliot is injured.

Salah pretty much starts every game but I'd even be fine with Chiesa starting for him. Probably means Jota left and Nunez middle

Arsenal will win it now, now theyve got Villa,Spurs and City away all out the way. I tipped them before the season started anyway.

Arsenal are defensively more solid than us. They remind me of the Arsenal team under George Graham when they just played a low block and counter attacked with Thomas and later on Wright.

Arteta just combining Moyes tactics with some Spanish flavour of positional play.

comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted 19 minutes ago
I know we're having a pop at Arsenal fans, but I think referees have always seemed to let things go for City or make mistakes for City that seem to be advantageous for them more often than other clubs.

We felt it when we were battling them for titles, now it's just Arsenal's turn. It's not anti-Arsenal though by any means.
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Only contentious decision yesterday was the quick free kick which benefited Arsenal.

comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
If City get punished as the rightly should and it rules them out of the title race, do you think we can keep pace with Arsenal?
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I'm an optimist so yeah, I think so. We'll learn a lot when we play Arsenal and City

Yesterday made me realise how nervous City are, not seen them come out of the blocks like they did yesterday since we were competing with them. You can tell they'd been geared-up for it. Also they were very nervous in the second half

I really do hope we smash them at Anfield and put them in their place.

Ball retention wingers don't work against this physical Arsenal defence. The best City team was when they had quick wingers who could beat the opposition fullback and drag the CBs out of position.

comment by Boca Seniors (CR7= Club Record, 7-0) (U19731)

Ball retention wingers don't work against this physical Arsenal defence. The best City team was when they had quick wingers who could beat the opposition fullback and drag the CBs out of position.
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Thought they looked better when Grealish came on, compared to Doku. Then again I still don't rate Doku

We know how Arsenal will play and we can deal with there attackers. Its all about the corners. We have our 2 man mountains and Ali will not get bullied like Ederson and Spurs keeper but we probably need another big un so might have to look at Gomez playing left back like he did last time.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 41 minutes ago
The funny thing about woe is me from Arsenal fans in relation to the reffing yesterday, is you could quite easily argue both goals shouldn't have counted.

The first was taken 15 yards further forward and played before Walker was back in position after being called over by the ref, and the second could easily be given as blocking/obstruction on Ederson on a different day, which I doubt VAR would intervene on.
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They havent penalised that all season, Arsenal did it to Vicario all game. Slot seems to put bodies around the keepers but not so aggressive, did it vs AC milan.

Just wait if we score one in the prem doing it though thats when VAR will step in and itll get disallowed. If we want it to stop we just have to do it aggressively and constantly like Arsenal, when we score one ittll be clamped down on, no doubt about that.

We like crowding the keeper and basically trent shooting from a corner. Did it a few times vs Bournemouth and this season in general.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Boca Seniors (CR7= Club Record, 7-0) (U19731)

Ball retention wingers don't work against this physical Arsenal defence. The best City team was when they had quick wingers who could beat the opposition fullback and drag the CBs out of position.
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Thought they looked better when Grealish came on, compared to Doku. Then again I still don't rate Doku
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Not Dokus fault tbh their strategy of passing it side to side on the edge of their box until some defender has a pop...

If they put Gvardiol in the box and let doku sylvio beat their man and put the ball in i think with haaland and gvardiol they'd have prob won it. Was an odd tactic from Pep vs 10 men sat so deep no intent to play at all.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Boca Seniors (CR7= Club Record, 7-0) (U19731)

Ball retention wingers don't work against this physical Arsenal defence. The best City team was when they had quick wingers who could beat the opposition fullback and drag the CBs out of position.
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Thought they looked better when Grealish came on, compared to Doku. Then again I still don't rate Doku
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Doku is just not good enough at this moment. He is not on the same level as Sane at the same age.

Doku is just Traore with a bit more agility. He's dribbling is insane but he barely ever does anything at the end of the dribble that's worth anything. The other guy on the other side looks a talent though.

comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
comment by Szoboss (U6997)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 6 minutes ago


Been reading some gooner comments that they are reffed differently and everyone is against them. Football fans really are weird. They’re not even that good, have a good solid back 5 yes but it’s eye bleeding football. Second at best unless city’s case is done and goes against them.

Some of their fans on here are hilarious. GT has to be a wum account. He/she cannot see anything negative about them. It’s nuts
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It's really weird what's going on with football fans atm. There's always been terrace chat about certain refs never given the team decisions but the internet seems to have turned that into corruption conspiracy theories.

Let's be honest, some of our fans have walked that path with Tierney as well, but certain Arsenal fans seem to think the entire PGMOL, european refs and the media are all against them! It's tin foil hat stuff.

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Agree also plenty of our own go on similar. Folk really need to stop taking a game so seriously
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IMO, the refs are really poor and incompetent and in football it will always lead to conspiracy theories. Having them officiating in Saudi and UAE and paid two years wages for one game isn't a good look either. Fans of different clubs are taking turns to complain and cry foul. Every week someone is left hard done by in a manner that shouldn't really be happening. Of course they can't be perfect but for me there is a lot of room for improvement and they should disband the PGMOL and put to pasture anyone associated with them.

comment by TheresOnlyOne7-0Reds (U1721)
posted 32 minutes ago
Doku is just Traore with a bit more agility. He's dribbling is insane but he barely ever does anything at the end of the dribble that's worth anything. The other guy on the other side looks a talent though.
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Yeah he looks player. Lovely touch/technique and can pick a pass too.

Arsenal were quite smart with the way they blocked Ederson yesterday, Saliba and Martinelli approached him from behind and didn't interfere with Ederson at all, but he clearly wouldn't be able to pass them to get to the back post. Clearly a very well-planned set piece which is fair enough.

The Arsenal players hiding at the back post and rushing forward is clever too, means the City zonal guys are blind-sided. You could see it with Walker man-marking Gabriel, he was touch-tight but as soon as the corner was taken, Walker was looking towards the ball and moved towards it even through Gabriel went behind him.

Something we would be at risk of given we do zonal marking too

It was worrying how bad the standard of refereeing got, its even more than theres no sign of improvement. Watched 3 european games this season and its been disheartening seeing some slovenian refs making it look easy. Barely notice em which makes a premier league watcher notice them because lets be honest refs are centre of attention most games every weekend.

Its a disgrace and a crime the supposed best league in the world has officials of such poor standards in the spotlight every week.

At what point do we outsource refs for our league? how much longer do we give them to continue to prove theyre not up to improving?

Best thing the prem could do is get Collina in and pay him and give him what it takes to put together the best bunch of refs from around the world and sort this mess out. I honestly dont think a single English ref would make his team.

Rodri out for the season.