Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse...

There's only one place to start, isn't there? The red card for MLS, and the fallout therefrom. We're all venting about it, I'm sure; and here's my take (it's a bit of a rant tbh).

Firstly, it's a cynical and somewhat desperate challenge. Which he probably didn't have to make. But it simply doesn't reach the threshold for 'serious foul play', as classed by PGMOL themselves. Their definition is: 'a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent, or uses excessive force or brutality'. The other question may have been whether it denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity, but as the foul was committed 75 yards from the Arsenal goal that's somewhat far-fetched to say the least.

At the time, our friend Michael Oliver must have felt that it reached one of those thresholds. Otherwise the card would have been yellow - as it deserved to be. But the reaction to the decision - from the players and coaching staff, from the crowd, from those watching on television including in the Sky studio and from journalists alike - was almost unanimously one of disbelief. Yes, it was made out of (perhaps misplaced) desperation, and yes, it was extremely cynical; but that doesn't make it a red card offence (although whether it should remains a question for another day).

But now we get to the second layer of madness. The VAR, Darren England, upheld the decision despite having access to around a dozen angles. This makes no sense to me. Yes, the VAR's remit is to interfere only in the case of a 'clear and obvious error', and perhaps he felt that the red card was justified (although he'd be in a very small percentage minority). But there was every justification for sending Oliver to the screen for another look. Yet no - none of that; merely a 'check complete'.

And you really have to ask yourself why, seeing as this was in fact a 'clear and obvious error', Oliver was not invited to review the incident. 

Pat Nevin, on Radio 5 Live, described the current standards of officiating in England (and I couldn't have stated it better myself) as 'a bar so low that even a limbo dancing snake couldn't get under it'. However, that's no reason to send the referee death threats; that's going just a teeny weeny bit far.

And here's where the conspiracy theories start.

• Was England, bearing in mind his position in the PGMOL hierarchy compared to Oliver, afraid to recommend that he go to the screen? And, if so, what does this say about how PGMOL is run?

• Did England actually agree with Oliver? In which case, they're in a gigantic minority

• Is there, in fact, some sort of vendetta or conspiracy against Arsenal? By PGMOL, and by Oliver in particular? As I - amongst others - have been suggesting for years now. And it's this final point that I want to look at a bit more closely (I'll mark those incidents when Oliver was referee or VAR with an asterisk - * -as I go along)

Also, why was a far worse challenge by Joao Gomes penalised by a mere yellow card (second yellow, and therefore sent off)? In the same match! Thus meaning that real violent conduct is rewarded by a one-match ban, but MLS gets a three match holiday. Oliver can't even show consistency over the course of a single match!

This is the latest in a series of 'never to be repeated' events/injustices suffered by Arsenal this season. The Rice sending-off. The Trossard sending-off*. Even the Saliba sending off (compared to an almost identical incident involving a Chelsea defender that very same weekend). And now this. Plus as regards the first two on this list, there have been other occasional yellow cards given for 'delaying a restart', but none given as a second yellow.

But this isn't the only 'never to be repeated' event from which Arsenal have suffered over the years. Martinelli sent off for two minor infringements within 5 seconds of each other*. David Luiz sent off when the opposing forward's heel made accidental contact with his knee. Two sendings off for Granit Xhaka; one against Manchester City when he made no contact with the attacker, and another against Liverpool when he had no idea that the attacker was behind him as he attempted to clear a ball dropping over his shoulder*. A failure to send off Matteo Kovacic for a studs up tackle from behind on Martin Odegaard last season* - because, according to PGMOL supremo Howard Webb (meet the new boss; same as the old boss), he 'didn't want to ruin the spectacle of a big game'. But had no compunction with sending Trossard off for a (debatable) technical offence a season later - violent conduct is apparently OK, though. Here are a few unhappy picture memories...

Oliver has also sent off Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Fabio Vieira, and Francis Coquelin in decisions where a yellow may well have sufficed. A total of 8 Arsenal players sent off by Oliver over the years; more than any other club. And precisely 8 more than the number of Manchester City players he has sent off. 

This graphic says it all, really: More red cards than any other side given to Arsenal players. Also more yellow cards btw. More penalties per game awarded too. Contrast that to his treatment of Manchester City, where everything is at the low end, (zero sendings off) and then recall his relationship with Qatar (invited to referee matches in the UAE, and being paid £20,000 a match to do so).

I've been suggesting that there's a conspiracy for more than a short while now; because there are plenty of other incidents I could cite (off the top of my head, we've had Tomiyasu sent off for delaying the taking of a throw in, then a slight tug on an opponent’s jersey 60 yards from goal; Tomiyasu getting a boot in the head from Everton defender Godfrey; no award of a penalty when he was dragged to the ground by Harry Maguire (that's a remarkable number of controversial moments for a player who's so rarely fit, I must add). A goal awarded to Brentford because the VAR 'forgot' to draw the lines. The Newcastle goal that could have been ruled out for the ball being off the field, the goal scorer being offside, but most importantly for a blatant foul by Joelinton on Gabriel. I could go on by citing a penalty area assault by McCarthur of Palace on Saka, or mention the 'winning' goal against Liverpool in injury time earlier this season, which wasn't awarded as referee Taylor had already blown up for a non-existent foul by Kivior... but as you may be asleep already... nonetheless, here are some more cheerful photographs.

And look; I know that every club can do this. Wolves certainly can! But it's weighed far too heavily against Arsenal for it to be mere incompetence. And as for VAR itself; I have no idea why that runs so smoothly in European competition, and in international tournaments. It's either the quality of the VARs, the number of 'we know better than you' tweaks added by PGMOL, or a combination of both. The reason Arsenal are getting this all the time goes back to that Newcastle goal, and Arteta's (justifiable) post-match response.

I realise that I'm p*ssing into the wind here, but it does help to get it off my chest. If you're still reading this, it's because you agree with me. Although it wouldn't surprise me if many have given up by now...

Anyhoo... further fallout from the match was as follows.

• An already thin and depleted squad once more asked to play with 10 men for an entire half. Using up valuable energy. Havertz was visibly exhausted by the end of the game

• What a goal by Califiori! A delightful finish, and a very important one leading to a vital three points

• Back to Havertz, who missed three more than presentable headed chances. One, in particular, he will be very disappointed with. I know that it's more difficult to score with one's head than one's feet, but these were all close range headers. Havertz is essentially the only fit senior 'centre forward' Arsenal have at the moment - and it's debatable whether he should be classed as a striker tbh - but the fact that he's expected to do so much running, and is suffering for it, is as good a reason to draft somebody in as the need to find a more clinical finisher. And he's not the only player suffering physically. We saw nothing on Saturday to suggest that reinforcements are not desperately required

• And on the subject of reinforcements; I'm not sure that Mateus Cunha did much to enhance his reputation in this game. £70-80m? I'll pass, thanks

As I type, there is no news on what's going on behind the scenes regarding MLS's red card. Apart from hearing - completely unsurprisingly - that PGMOL have doubled down over it. Let's hope that the FA panel will see it differently.

We now move on to another big week. Girona away in  the Champions League; and as Arsenal have, according to OPTA, a less than one percent chance of not qualifying in the top 8 places I'd chuck some fringe players in for that one. Girona themselves have nothing to play for. Followed by a massive game at THOF on Sunday.Manchester City - an absolute Must Win. We'd better not see Michael Oliver officiating that one...

Just before I go... Tottenham lost again... and do you know what; I think that 'it' is actually on. They're in a relegation battle, St Totteringham's Day is going to be super early this year, and it's really entertaining to see it.

Let's hope for good news on MLS. COYG!