ARSENAL SUFFER *ANOTHER* CALAMITY AT HANDS OF A GREATER MANCHESTER REF

It’s starting to feel like a bit of a tradition for Arsenal to get caught up in PGMOL drama early in the season—and this one is no different. Last campaign, it was Kovacic not getting a red card for a horrendous tackle “so as not to spoil the game.” Yesterday, on matchday three, it was Declan Rice getting sent off early in the second half for one of the softest reasons since Robin Van Persie’s red card in Barcelona or Martinelli receiving two bookable offences in the same passage of play.

There’s no point in me litigating the red card because you’ve all seen it 100 times. You know the ball wasn’t set for the free-kick, the player wasn’t looking the right way, Veltman violently kicked Declan to the floor, and the ref didn’t even consider taking a look at the video board just to make sure he wasn’t making another massive error in an Arsenal game.

The point here is this: Chris Kavanagh had to really, really, really want to make that decision against Arsenal. It’s a ridiculous reason to send a player off; it won’t happen again this season, and it was based on a flawed interpretation of the law. You know he had it out for Arsenal because he didn’t follow his “time-wasting” principles for the Pedro incidents that happened after the game. When the same thing happened with the same ref against West Ham, again, no issue. This is the same ref against Villa a few years ago, the one who complained to the Premier League after Reiss Nelson scored that late winner. Arsenal had ‘Tomiyasu sent off for time-wasting in a never happened since’ moment, and Xhaka sent off at Man City when he got the ball. I could go on...

You have to ask, simply, what is going on here? Why is a ref from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, making decisions like this? How are we in another Premier League season, with the same cast of characters, continuing to ruin the game with their horrendous ineptitude? At this point, Richard Masters, who funds this debacle, really needs to ask some questions about how they’re assessing this improvement plan that Howard Webb has pulled together.

The big issue here isn’t just the bad decisions on and off the pitch—it’s that these sorts of injustices are becoming so comical, they’re spoiling the enjoyment of the game. It’s interesting which teams don’t get those dramatic decisions going against them, which again adds to the frustration and fuels the rage.

Arsenal dropped two points—the same amount that separated the club from Manchester City last season. I truly don’t think we have to worry about City being that close this season. I would put huge, huge, huge money on them not being the number 1 contender come May. But it’s still frustrating that we’re not having a performance conversation as the reason we dropped two points; we’re having another boring whine about average refs.

The performance was good—the boys showed fight. They created five big chances and should have done more with them to kill the game in the first half. Saka was sensational. He looks like he had the summer off. The opening 15 minutes were so brutal for Brighton, James Milner hobbled off, and their coach issued the “just fuck up Saka” order… which of course the ref didn’t notice.

We landed the breakthrough, Saka ruffled Dunk, who was dealing with a long/high ball, it shook loose, he nipped in, fed Havertz, who dinked his shot over Verbruggen.

*did I enjoy seeing Raheem in the crowd? Damn right I did. Have I gaslit myself into liking this move? Oh for sure. Also felt a pain of pain for poor old Mikel Merino in an arm brace.*

Brighton eked back into the game after we went a man down. Declan Rice was the fall guy after some “clever” shithousing by Veltman. But I have litigated that despite saying I wouldn’t.

The goal came from a pass that penetrated our backline like a sandworm in Dune... no one seemed to be paying attention until it made a surprise appearance in behind our defence down the other end... and sadly, our clean sheet met its end in horrendous fashion. Our defence was napping for the initial strike, Partey for the Joao Pedro follow-up. I am going to have nightmares tonight imagining a midfield with the Ghanaian doing the Declan Rice role. When he’s looked bad, it’s been really bad.

Arsenal continued to slog with Brighton. Much like Villa, it was a combination of great saves and last-gasp defending from Arsenal—and some gilt-edged misses up the other end. Kai Havertz outmuscled Van Hecke to get a shot off one-on-one… maybe he could have gone down for a penalty. Kai then created a stunning chance for Saka on the left, but the sliding connection didn’t have enough to beat the keeper.

Arteta played it tactically well. Bringing on Calafiori gave us an outlet and some physicality. It also gave Zinchenko cover when we were searching late on.

The game finished 1-1. It could have been worse. Now we have to go to Spurs and City away and do something big.

If we’re going to win the Premier League, isn’t that what you do?

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