Wednesday 10 February 2010

Justice over scouse team of referees

I was pleased to see Bendtner start, having a focus up front is so important, we had really lacked this in recent games with both Eduardo and Bendtner out. Having Diaby and Song in tandem in the midfield also filled me with confidence, we look a better side with these two breaking things up and getting stuck into the opposition. Liverpool lined up as predicted, two holding players and a lone striker in Ngog.

There was just a real drive to our game that was not there against United, we played with more tempo and pace, there was far more pressure on the ball and despite no breakthrough coming in the fist half, there was just something different in the air, the pressure seemed to be building and the chances started to flow a little more freely. Bendtner came close, Arshavin was finding space off the big Dane, Rosicky was probing the inside channels. When it came, the goal was a thumper, Bendtner held the ball up well and played it to the overlapping Rosicky, a perfect cross then found Diaby storming in at the back stick, his header tumped home, one nil to the Arsenal it was.

Nasri had been replaced by Rosicky, Walcott came on for Arshavin and then finally the excellent Bendtner was off for Bacary Sagna. The game became a touch nervy as one would have expected, Liverpool looked long and direct, Gerrard threw himself to ground expectantly as he loves to do. Cesc almost scored with a majestic volley, it flew rapidly over the bar. Almunia then produced a fantastic tip over from a stinging Babel twenty five yarder.

Liverpool were an utter disgrace in the last few minutes, a ridiculous Gerrard dive was followed by a theatrical Kuyt dive, the compliant referee gave Liverpool the free kick they didn't deserve, they moved the ball forward and forward from where the 'foul' was committed, the weak Webb then booked Cesc as he had been told to do this by the pathetic Liverpool players who seemed to think that they were born to officiate games themselves. The free kick then struck Cesc's uplifted arm, Webb missed it, in the end justice was done.

Overall it's four points out of twelve, not great but not a complete write off. All in all the only game that really disappointed me was the loss to Manu, not just the fact that we lost but the manner of the capitulation. Tonight was so much better, Liverpool fought hard and were worthy opponents but in the end the we deserved the three points, we played the better football, opened up their defence far more freely than they opened ours and created the better chances.

It was a particularly satisfying win given the way the Liverpool players behaved throughout, there is a real niggling undercurrent of cheating in the way that their players were constantly trying to tell the referee what to do at every turn, this was epitomised by their thuggish cheat of a captain, Steven Gerrard, if ever a man deserved to be desribed as a c*nt then he is that man. Their reaction at the final whistle said it all really, embarrassing stuff. I cannot stand teams who appeal for every ball to hand in the box as if it should be a penalty. With Chelsea and Manu dropping points it was a fantastic evening for us, add to that the mighty Wolves sinking 'Arry's hapless spuds. Great stuff Gunners, keep that going and you never know what may happen.

15 comments:

Gary said...

cheers man nice to have a read soo quick after the game..thnx..calling him a c u n t is an understatement..title bid on again :) gooner 4 ever

Anonymous said...

Gerrard is simply disgusting. He dives continually and never ever gets booked. Shocking!!

Anonymous said...

agreed..Walcott seemed to make a difference too..ah the releaf. seems like the last time we won was last year!!!

Anonymous said...

he never get booked and slated by the press is because he's english, eduardo on the other hand!

Anonymous said...

I bet you didnt see cheating Bendtner's dive then did you? I'm sure Wenger didnt either...

Anonymous said...

Just heard wengers interview on the BBC, he is spot on.

He is taking it one game at a time.

Anonymous said...

Think your praise is a bit over the top to be honest. Performance to me was very hit-and-miss and decidedly nervy at times. Excellent goal though. Result the most important thing, more especially because tonight's other games went in our favour. Should now take the opportunity to regroup during the week off and kick on from this.

The Duke said...

what upset me the most was when Andy Grey described his dive at the weekend against everton as 'clever' whereas if any arsenal player was to do the same - they'd be labelled a cheat....

Anyways, not the time to dwell on that particular player, great post and good to have a smile on my face after a football match! Think every player in an Arsenal shirt did themselves proud tonight - and Almunia deserves a mention for a few top quality saves after the rough time he's had in the past couple of months...


Bring on porto!

Anonymous said...

Anon 22.24: Bendtner got booked for his dive. Gerrard constantly gets away with it. There's the glaring difference

Gareth said...

Great game, bit of a sloppy first half, but I did enjoy the first 10 minutes of the second half most, some real good play and great to watch.

Greath write up to ;)

Anonymous said...

Much better (though not flawless) defensive performance from Arsenal. If only they could have played with this degree of defensive cohesion against ManU and Chelsea. In truth, I think you are right about the diving - Liverpool knew they could con this ref and he duly obliged. Gerrard is a good player anyone can see that- but he is also a cheat.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how Liverpool got a free kick and Bentdner got booked for divingin the first half, yet when Gerrard fell over like a sack of sh*t the ref let play continue and gave Liverpool the free kick for a 'foul' on Kuyt.

Surely we should have got the free kick and Gerrard been booked.

Anyway justice was done when the ref ignored Cescs handy little save. I'm back in love with football.

Ian

sounak said...

I think they shud come up with a song for Gerrard and his diving skills! What a tribute it'd be to such a 'great' player!

marcus said...

Gerrard seems to be diving repeatedly in every single f------g game lately and yet he never gets booked for it, nor is he demonized in the press like Eduardo was. Makes my blood boil.

I was impressed with the defensive work from almost everyone. I was certain we’d concede but after awhile I suddenly found myself feeling sure we’d eke it out. Excellent, gritty, mature victory, despite the flaws in the performance. We need more victories like this. Of course, I was very glad that neither Torres and Benayoun were on the pitch.

I also wonder if Cesc decided to take a hit for the team by using his hand for idiotic free kick at the end.

Scary to think that FIFA continually chooses Coward Webb to officiate at their big tournaments -- he's the only English ref chosen for South Africa. Out of all the refs in the world, FIFA think he's one of the best.

Uncle Mike said...

What is it going to take for the English media to admit that Steven Gerrard is a diving master? An own goal at the World Cup, perhaps?

Duke points out that Andy Gray called Gerrard for his dive against Everton, but then, Gray played for the Toffees, so this may be a bit of Blue Bitterness from Merseyside's Other Team.