I understand your point, but I really cant remember there being so many huge ref mistakes last season. Sure, those happened. And minor mistakes will always happen. But this season we have huge blunders every single week, and I can’t remember it being that bad before

and they’ve got a significant chunk of their starting XI out - it’s the equivalent of Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomi, Ode & then some -

Alternatively it is the equivealent of Timber, White, Partey, Odegaard and Jesus. You know, the exact line of players who were out for us for several rounds. We managed, but Spurs crumbled.

Spurs are blaming their poor run of games on injuries, but they have about the same as us, nut most of ours have been out for longer. And lets be honest, them missing Richarlison isn’t exactly a huge loss. They have had two players out due to suspensions on top of the injuries, but thats not bad luck. Thats just the consequences of dumb play. Spurs haven’t been hit and harder by injuries than any other team, with several teams being hit way harder than them

I know its funny to call it a bottle job. But the fact is that even when Arsenal were 8 pts ahead, booking companies still gave Arsenal just abit over 50/50 chance of winning it. When that lead dropped to 6 pts City were favorites to win the league. Bottling something indicates that someone loses something they should have won. Not winning something you aren’t expected to win isn’t bottling it. And the reason no one expected Arsenal to win it is because City always goes on these insane win streaks when it matters. It was always going to take a miracle to keep that lead over City

I agree that this pen is a terrible decision, but saying its one of the worst you’ve seen? Did you start watching football 2 days ago? Atleast the ball undeniably hits his arm, so there is at the very least some sort of rationale you can give for why its a pen. We have seen soo many other decisions, just this season alone, where there is just no rationale for the decision whatsoever. While this decision is bad, it is not even close to the worst we have seen this season

They didn’t even have that bad of a game. If you take away Newcastles goal (which is the basis of this whole controversy) which is as close to a whole xG as it gets, Arsenal outperformed Newcastle on almost every single metric. Newcastle hardly created anything at all except for that one situation.

That game was basically two good teams cancelling eachother out, with a ref that completely lost control of the match

You mean the tackle that was actually carded and punished? We see borderline red tackles every game. Sometimes its a red, sometimes they aren’t, and sometimes they make a mistake. Havertz’ one wasn’t the only tackle that gameweek that could have been given a red but wasn’t. The point is that while I could understand a red being given, a yellow for it is not anywhere near as massive a blunder as not sending off a player for deliberately striking an opponent in the back of the head.

“Not used his arm as a weapon”… Jesus fucking christ. Does Chuck Norris have to parachute onto the pitch, sub in for Bruno, only to karate chop Jorginho in the throat for VAR to think its worthy of a red?

Where the fuck was this energy when Casemiro was sent off for slightly forcefully grabbing someones shirt collar? I don’t rememeber weaponized arms being part of the equation then.

I loved the introduction of VAR, but it just clearly shows us that these refs are just making up the rules as they go along, and no amount of tech is going to fix that

No one says they are back. But the path back seem much clearer for Chelsea than for Man United.

Chelsea have bought lots of young talent that is easy to see how they could kick on in a few years. Man United has almost the opposite problem. Several starters are nearing, or already passed, the point where they need replacing. Combined with several players who seem to contribute directly negatively to the performces, its clear Man United need a huge overhaul of the squad. Which is weird, given how Man United have been in a constant huge overhaul for the last decade. Which suggests there is something wrong within the club.

Chelsea have their issues, yes. And I would love nothing more than for that blood money funded club to fade into obscurity. But I see a clear path of improvement for then. I struggle far more to see that same path for Man United

Yes. Adjusted for inflation, the amount Chelsea spent under Abromovich is insane even compared to City.

I get that Havertz didn’t have an amazing game, but is his rating coloured a bit by the general feeling towards him? I don’t recall him having a bad game at all?

Not even close. He actually had a season with decent a decent GA ratio and was our second most important attacker.

Not saying he was worth his fee at all, but he actually did well for a season. Some of these other flops havent been close to that

They have overperformed their xg, and their opponents have underperformed theirs. It wasn’t anywhere close to sustainable.

Tbf, Man Uniteds play should have placed them far lower. But they have gotten points where they had absolutely no business picking up any. 23 worse goal difference and only 6 points behind says alot

Man United being 6 points off 1st with a 23 worse goal difference shows how well Man United have gotten paid points wise for those terrible performances

You arent the only team with injury problems. Chelsea have had a alot of injuries, and Arsenal have been missing their main CDM, striker and LB as well as occational injuries to Saliba, White, and Odegaard.

Funny you say 7th because thats exactly where the xg table puts you so far this season. You have been dramatically overperforming so far, which doesn’t bode well now that you have picked up some injuries as well

Guys, this isn’t Arsenals xg in our games. Its how much xg have been creating by both teams in our games. It also indicates we allow little xg from our opponents as well. Notice how we are just slightly below City.

A better visualization would be to split the bars into for/against

Good thing he didn’t call the refs that, then

Intent isn’t, and has not been for a very long time, a requirement for a red. It can increase the seriousness of the challenge, but intent is in no way required for a red. The reason why is obvious: how do you prove intent? The most important factor for the refs is to consider wether the player is acting reckless and/or endangering his opponent. Rashford isn’t being reckless here, but planting your studs in your opponents ankle is dangerous regardless of wether he intended to do it or not.

I think its harsh, but claiming it is BS because he didn’t intend to do it just shows a complete misunderstanding of the rules.

Reckless, no. Dangerous, absolutely. I think the red is harsh, but planting your studs in your opponents ankle is dangerous regardless of wether you intended to do it or not