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Arsenal: Dynamo player failed drugs test, Bayern can be beaten, Ospina injured
Can Arsenal overturn the form book and beat Bayern Munich in tonight’s Champions’ League match at the Emirates? Can a team defeated by the ordinary Dynamo Zagreb and Olympiacos beat the mighty Germans?
Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger is ambitious:
“At the moment they have the best record in Europe. Maybe they are the most outstanding team in Europe. Historically they have won the European Cup how many times? Five? And Arsenal zero. So you cannot say that historically we are at the same level as Bayern. What we want is to get there. But the history doesn’t play the game. What will decide the game is the performance we produce. That comes from if we believe we can do it.”
Can they win? Wenger adds:
“I believe we have some ground to make up in Europe as we have not been at our requested level in our first two games. Our focus has been much stronger in the Premier League than it has been in Europe, and we know in this game the focus needs to be exactly the same as in the Premier League. We have the belief and confidence that we’re doing something right, so that helps. We maybe could be a little suspected in the first two games of not taking the opponent seriously enough, but this time this is not the threat. So let’s take the positives of our Premier League and get the right focus that you get when you play a big opponent. It’s a realistic statement to say we have to win one of the two games against Bayern. Maybe not even realistic enough.”
The Times notes:
Wenger’s frustration at the Zagreb defeat, in particular, was compounded by Arijan Ademi, the Dynamo midfield player, failing a drugs test after the game. Uefa is waiting for the results of his B sample before opening disciplinary proceedings, but the result will stand regardless as only in the case of more than two players from the same team having been found to have committed a doping violation in the same competition are team sanctions imposed.
Test them all, then. Why not?
Says Wenger:
“When you don’t play at your best and your opponent is doped, it is difficult. The rules are the rules and I cannot change that, so I don’t think the result is really under any threat. We have organised World Cups before now with 740 players and zero doping cases, and I don’t know if that is really a fact. I was surprised the player was Ademi because he didn’t play before he played against us. But we have to wait as well because there is a counter check to see what comes out.”
Why aren’t all footballers at top matches checked?
As for the match, David Ospina, the Arsenal goalkeeper who gifted the Greek a goal, is out injured. The feeling is that whoever is in the Gunners’ goal will have to play brilliantly.
Posted: 20th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Clickbait football: Surprising facts about Arsenal for Metro readers
The “surprising” stat is that Arsenal have won more Premier League games than any other team in 2015. Trouble is that season runs from August to May – so its means nothing.
Posted: 18th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports, Tabloids | Comment
Arsenal balls: lose to Bayern Munich and the Premier League goes too (just ask Liverpool)
Arsenal are playing badly in the Champions’ League. With the table reading ‘played 2; lost 2’, Arsene Wenger’s team need a win in their home match with Bayern Munich.
Steve Howard has a theory that you can win when you lose. He writes in the Sun:
Should Arsenal suffer back-to-back defeats against Bayern Munich — P11, W11 and 24 goals in their last six games — they could well finish bottom of the group and not even qualify for the Europa League. Arsenal, free of other distractions, will then never have a better chance of winning their first title since the Invincibles in 2003-04. Just call it forward planning. And they never do anything in the Champions League anyway
Can losing matches help to win matches? What about winning being a habit?
In 2014, Liverpool were pushing to the title. With a home match against Chelsea looming the Daily Mirror asked its writes to take a view:
Will Liverpool win the Premier League title? Our reporters have their say…
Martin Lipton:
…the Anfield clash comes slap in the middle of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final games with Atletico Madrid. That surely gives Liverpool an advantage.
Joe Mewis:
While there’s surely a few twists and turns awaiting us, the fact that the Chelsea game comes in the middle of their Champions League semi-final tips the balance in favour of the Reds for me.
Paul Wilson had more in the Guardian:
There can be no doubt, as Liverpool home in on a possible first title in 24 years, that their chances have been enhanced by non-involvement in Europe.
Managers in the know such as José Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini have been saying all season that it is easier to play once a week, it is clearly less tiring not to have to travel abroad in midweek and you do not run the risk of “hangovers” when disappointing results in Europe affect your confidence in Premier League matches…
The Anfield game falls right between the two legs of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid. Mourinho’s players will arrive in Liverpool having played in Spain, and have the home leg at Stamford Bridge three days after Anfield. Given that victory over Liverpool will not necessarily confirm Chelsea as English champions – another slip-up by Manchester City will be required for that to happen – it may be the case that European progress is prioritised…
He then adds wryly:
At the very least some seem to feel that if a 24-year gap is closed and Gerrard gets his title wish, an asterisk should accompany the achievement in the record books to denote that Liverpool played fewer games than most of their rivals that season. If Liverpool do win the title and seventh place is established as the ideal launchpad for domestic success, can we expect teams to be fighting to finish outside the European positions from next season onwards? It could be Manchester United have been ahead of the game all along.
Adding:
There is plenty of room for argument about whether a Championship season is actually easier or less taxing than a Premier League one, but missing from my correspondent’s analysis of the Wembley situation was the consideration that Arsenal, of the Champions League, were nine minutes from being humbled by Wigan, of the Championship. A team that though relegated at the end of last season had gone to Manchester City in the previous round and put out a side that at the time were favourites to win the Premier League title. You can produce statistics to support almost any argument in football, but Danny Blanchflower was right about the game being about glory. If you don’t see that, if you can’t even be a little bit excited about teams upsetting the odds, you might be missing the point.
Liverpool never did win the title that year, losing t0-2 to Chelsea in that home match. Chelsea lost 3-1 to Atletico Madrid.
Does defeat in the Champion’s League help a team win the title? No. It just means you lost.
Posted: 16th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Arsenal balls: Wenger quits ‘all of a sudden’
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ‘named the date when his career at the Gunners end – the Mirror says it’s June 30 2017:
The Mirror says Wenger will “quit in 19 moths”.
On October 3, the same newspaper said Wenger had no plans to quit:
Wenger spoke:
“I will retire, don’t worry. But no, I haven’t decided on a plan yet. I think it can be more instinctive and impulsive than that. I’ve heard that so many times, ‘Next year I will retire’ and then they continue, or go somewhere else. I think one thing is for sure that, when I retire, I will really retire.”
And so to today’s scoop:
Gunners boss Wenger’s current £8m-a-deal expires at the end of next season and talked as if he was preparing to leave at the club’s AGM on Thursday
No quitting, then, but reaching the end of his current deal.
He said:
“I am resolute to commit absolutely until the last day of my contract to bring back big success to this club, and leave as well one day in a position where it can do even better when I leave. That is for me very important that I leave the club in the shape that the guy who comes after me can do better. The responsibility on my shoulders is much bigger. I know what it means for people. I know how sad people are when we don’t do well, I know how sad people are when we lose a game.”
So he has not set a date when he will quit. The Mirror’s scoop is balls.
The Times is more circumspect:
Arsène Wenger hints at his Arsenal exit strategy
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has given the first hint he is starting to contemplate his legacy at the Emirates Stadium, suggesting that he is determined to make sure that he leaves the club in such rude health that his successor is more successful than he has been.
Speaking at a stormy annual general meeting, the 65-year-old insisted he is “absolutely committed” to seeing out his contract, which expires in 2017. Sir Chips Keswick, the club’s chairman, also made clear that he and the board remain convinced that Wenger is the “best person to take charge of Arsenal for as long as he feels inclined”.
Said Wenger:
“Looking back, I am proud we have won titles and FA Cups, but the first quality of a club is to be consistent. We have had 18 consecutive years in the Champions League. Only one club — Real Madrid — has done better. I can understand that is not enough. I am the first person to agree that it is not enough. We want more.
Wenger stays!
Posted: 16th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports, Tabloids | Comment
Transfer balls: Arsenal chase the elusive Michy Batshuayi who wanted to reject them
Arsenal are buying… Michy Batshuayi. Maybe. The Metro has been tracking the story – and has yet to deliver a single cogent fact:
September 15: “Arsenal set to make January transfer bid for Michy Batshuayi”
September 16: “Arsenal transfer news: January move for Michy Batshuayi”
September 20: “Arsenal target Michy Batshuayi could make transfer away from Marseille, admits president”
September 21: “‘Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger asks board to seal Michy Batshuayi transfer – report”
October 14: “Arsenal ready to make Michy Batshuayi transfer move – report”
October 15: “Wenger plots Michy Batshuayi move”
Previously:
Followed one day later by:
Such are the facts…
Spotter: Football 365
Arsenal season ticket costs JUST twice as much as Stoke’s
Arsenal sell British football’s most expensive season ticket. Or as Mirror puts it:
Arsenal fans are forced to pay more than any other Premier League club for match-day and season tickets.
The media has been reviewing the BBC Sport’s annual Price of Football study.
Their most expensive season ticket costs £2,013 – almost SEVEN times the cost of the cheapest season ticket at Stoke, which at £294 is the most affordable in the top-flight.
Why compare the most expensive ticket at one club with the cheapest at another?
Stoke City only offers 300 season tickets at £294. Stoke’s top price ticket is £519. The cheapest season ticket to watch Arsenal cost £1014. Which represents the better value for money is for you to decide. If you think it’s Arsenal, you need to put your name on the waiting list. If you think it’s Stokes, pick your seat…
Posted: 15th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Benzema to Arsenal (says the Metro)
Transfer Balls: Arsenal are buying Karim Benzema. Well, so sys the Metro, which says the French striker is not happy because Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez substituted him in five of his last six league starts.
“It’s true I’m fed up of being taken off,” Benzema tells AS. “I’m calm and will continue to work so I’m not always substituted.”
Of course, what it also means is that Benitez keeps picking the player to start matches. In other words, he’s first choice at Madrid.
Manchester United: Van Gaal blames team for Arsenal defeat; team blames him
In an “Exclusive”, the Times says Manchester United players were “baffled” by Louis van Gaal’s tactics against Arsenal. United were lucky to lose 3-0 at the Emirates.
Manchester United’s players were left dismayed by Louis van Gaal’s unwillingness to adopt the counterattacking tactics at the Emirates Stadium that have served them well against Arsenal in the past. Van Gaal had been encouraged in the build-up to the game to play a system that would involve sitting deeper and hitting on the break but the United manager rebuffed that request in favour of playing a pressing game that failed miserably en route to a dismal 3-0 defeat.
Arsenal ripped them to shreds.
The Dutchman questioned his players’ desire and failure to follow his game plan after United fluffed the first serious test of their Barclays Premier League title credentials on Sunday… Arsenal had won just one of their previous 13 league meetings against United, who have often successfully utilised a counterattacking strategy against Arsène Wenger’s side. Several members of United’s squad believed this was a proven formula that had worked well in the past and would be worth persisting with.
To the Daily Express, this news translates into:
Louis van Gaal faces potential crisis with Man Utd players dismayed over Arsenal tactics
The Indy quotes Van Gaal:
“I was surprised, amazed. I didn’t expect that: not performing to our game plan, not the will to win. I have not seen that. When you give a team like Arsenal so much space to play football then you know you will lose. We have prepared ourselves to play more compact and not losing our aggression. I am very disappointed.
“I don’t know why it happened. I put the question at half-time and after the match because normally I say the things how I see them in the game. We have lost, and lost in a way that you cannot lose when you are top of the league. You cannot start like we started. The worst thing is that now everybody is going away now (on international duty). I can’t build up a new situation so they have the confidence to play football to win your next battle.”
He says it was them. They say it was him.
Posted: 6th, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Pundit Watch: Arsenal get their first clean sheet against Man United because Liverpool and Newcastle don’t count
Pundit Watch: the BBC’s Garth Crooks has news for Arsenal fans.
I saw Gabriel stand up to Chelsea’s Diego Costa recently at Stamford Bridge and he refused to be intimidated by the striker. Sadly for Arsenal, he paid a heavy price for his boldness and was sent off.
That red card was rescinded, Garth.
His performance, while less demanding against Manchester United, was extremely professional and he looked like a very composed defender with the ball at his feet. He reduced Anthony Martial to the minimum of chances and was instrumental in Arsenal’s first clean sheet of the season.
Arsenal fans will wonder if clean sheets against Stoke, Newcastle and Liverpool count?
Arsenal: Wenger wanted Martial but Monaco owed Manchester United over Falcao
Arsenal manger Arsène Wenger says he thought about signing Anthony Martial, the French footballer now with Manchester United. Wenger thought about buying Martial when he was at Lyons. But the French club told him Martial wasn’t for sale.
Martial then joined Monaco for 3 million.
Monaco told Wenger Martial was “not sellable”. So off he went to Manchester United for £36 million.
The simple story, of course, is that Arsenal quite liked Martial but were never going to pay a fortune to sign him. Chances are other clubs also like other top players but just can’t find the odd £36m to actually sign them.
The media continue to press Wenger on Martial. He replies to their probing:
“I was surprised they sold him. The amount of money was massive. I believe that you could think that, if you are Monaco, you could have sold him as well next season. So I thought they would not sell him this year because they sold many other players. I thought they would maintain their word. He was not sellable. He was not on the list. He was one of the players Monaco did not want to sell, so we never made an approach for him. Only an acceptable amount of money after could do it. We always liked him, even when he was in Lyons. That was a surprise too, that Lyons sold him on the last day of the transfer market for €5 million [£3 million].”
Should Arsenal have bought the player? Wenger adds:
“The future will tell us if he is overpriced. Manchester United spend the money they have. It is not artificial. They are entitled to do it.”
Monaco’s executive vice-president, Vadim Vasilyev, tells Marca that one club outbid United:
“There was another club that offered even more than United. I will not say how much, but the fixed price, without variables, was even better, and they also offered us [the chance] to have him for a further year in Monaco. But the boy wanted to go to Manchester. It was his dream and we let him go with the bonus of [£36 million]. Had it not been for so much money, he would have stayed.”
A year earlier, United took Monaco’s Radamel Falcao on loan. The Colombian, now with Chelsea, joined for a £6m fee plus wages of – get this- £265,000-a-week. United also took the option to sign Falcao on a longer contract for £43.5m at the end of the loan spell. He proved to be not all that good. United had been sold a dud.
You have to wonder how much that deal impacted on Monaco and United’s decision to do business over Martial? Monaco might have beee able to get more for Martial from another club, but having seen United take the overpriced Falcao off their books, maybe they thought it right to return the favour?
Posted: 3rd, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Arsenal: Manchester United can bank on success, says Wenger
The football media love to make sensation for nothing. So it is for Arsenal’s press conference ahead of their match with Manchester United. According to the Star, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has “revealed the real reasons” Man United are top of the Premier League.
Cocking an ear for the ‘real reasons’ – the position of the stars alignment, bribery or a psychic octopus – we hear Wenger say:
“I defended Van Gaal last year and I think the experience he has in his career it is not surprising that they are doing well. Manchester United has the money that they spend. It is not artificial. It comes from their own resources. You have to accept that they’re huge but they can do it and they are entitled to do it.”
United are top because they are a huge team that spends vast amount of money. Who knew?
Well, we all did. Because back in July, Wenger said much the same thing. Although today the Metro still teases:
Arsenal boss Wenger gives surprising opinion on Man United’s transfer business
What he said back then was:
“You can take Barcelona or Man United, who had a generation and built their success on players who came from within. These are our values and it is our DNA and it’s important we keep that. With United’s success they have created huge financial resources and today there is no patience for them to continue to do what they did — and they have the financial resources to go with a different policy.”
And how did the media bill that entirely sensible observation:
Sky: “Arsene Wenger questions Manchester United transfer policy”
M.E.N: “Manchester United are trying to spend their way to success, claims Wenger”
Such are the facts…
Posted: 2nd, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Marquee Watch: Arsenal sent Cech a signal of in tent
Marquee Watch: a look at newspapers referring to a footballer as a “marquee”. Today Arsenal’s Petr Cech is one.
Arsenal had to beat Olympiakos – Wenger had described the tie as must-win – and it made no sense to overlook Cech, his No1 goalkeeper and the one marquee signing that the club had made last summer to make the difference.
Cech is the only signing Arsenal made over the summer.
The low-water mark for this Marquee Balls is in the Derby Telegraph, which told its readers:
Premier League champions Chelsea take on Arsenal in the day’s marquee game
Dictionary definition of marquee:
noun mar·quee \mär-ˈkē\
: a covered structure over the entrance to a building (such as a hotel or theater): a sign over the entrance to a theater that shows the name of the show, movie, play, etc., and the names of the main performers
: a large tent that is set up for an outdoor event (such as a party)
Posted: 30th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment
Backpages: Arsenal ‘Greeced’ by ‘Oopspina’ and Chelsea lose ‘Capital’ in night of ‘Fawlty Powers’
The newspapers lead with Arsenal and Chelsea’s woes in the Champions’ League. A slapdash Arsenal were beaten 2-3 by Olympiakos. Chelsea’ lost 1-2 in Porto.
Verdict: The Daily Mirror wins the pun wars. ‘Oopspina’ nails Arsenal goalkeeeper David Ospina for his own goal.
Posted: 30th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Wenger explains why he didn’t bring Anthony Martial to Arsenal
Transfer Balls: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to explain why he din’t buy Anthony Martial. The Daily Star has “the real reason why I didn’t make a bid for Man United star Anthony Martial.”
Says Wenger:
“He was more a winger in his whole career and he played the final part of the season last year as striker. But Monaco’s statement was always that the two players that would not move were Martial and [Layvin] Kurzawa, so I thought they would maintain that. But in the end both of them moved.”
It’s amazing what £36m did Monaco’s resolve.
Posted: 29th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment (1)
Arsenal: new chant of the year hymns Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal fans have a new chant for Laurent Koscielny, the club’s French defender.
To the tune of Rufus and Chaka Khan hit Ain’t Nobody:
Ain’t nobody
Like KOSCIELNY
Makes me happy
Makes me feel this way
Nice.
Posted: 28th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment
Arsenal balls: FA fine Gabriel for agreeing with them
Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista should not have been sent off against Chelsea last weekend. The FA rescinded the red card. When he was wrongly sent off, the Brazilian complained bitterly, as all he might have. So the FA have now him £10,000 for “improper conduct” in failing to accept a decision they say was wrong.
Ker-ching!
Mike Dean, the referee who made the errors, has not been fined.
Posted: 26th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment
‘Rampaging’ Arsenal balls: The Sun and Mail’s story on Spurs ‘shame’ show how much they hate football fans
The Press love to present any rowdiness at the football as a terrible thing. Last night Arsenal fans in the ‘away’ section were kept behind at Tottenham’s ground. These police-induced lock-ins are not supposed to be cause for merriment. They are moments when the police lock innocent people in/up for crimes not yet committed. A few Arsenal fans thought it a fun idea to reach over the barriers and peel off the sad mottos that puncture the Spurs concrete, messages like ‘Come On you Spurs’, ‘The Game Is About Glory’ and ‘To Dare Is to Do’.
The Sun says the “yobs” have “shamed” football.
ARSENAL face another FA charge after their supporters ripped up perimeter stadium signs and HURLED them at Spurs fans.
No. The signs were not hurled. No Spurs fans were injured because the signs were hanging over the heads of other Arsenal fans, who were cheering. And most Spurs fans had already left the ground.
Arsenal got 3,000 tickets for the match – the same allocation they always get. This is the lay-out:
ESPN saw the came thing:
Kept behind after the game, some away fans pulled away parts of the “This Is Our Club” boards on the first tier of the Park Lane stand at Spurs.
Although it too slips into hyperbole. Miguel Delaney rebrands the Spurs ground White Hart Lane as ‘White Hate Lane’:
Undaunted by facts, the Sun ploughs on:
The disgraceful scenes marred the double of hero Mathieu Flamini which sunk their bitter rivals.
No. They didn’t.
These were “shocking incidents”.
No. They were not.
But the Mail demands more.
‘Rampaging‘ fans?
Sami Mokbel at least gets one fact right:
The signs hurtled down towards the lower tier where other fellow Arsenal supporters were located.
What utter balls.
Posted: 24th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Reviews, Sports | Comments (2)
Transfer Balls: Benzema Joins Arsenal Again But For More Money
Transfer balls: the Metro days Arsenal have been “told” to increase their “bid” for Karim Benzema bid.
Told by whom? Sean Kearns writes:
They failed to get him in the summer but Arsene Wenger’s side has been told a significant increase in their bid for Benzema will see the Frenchman ending up at the Emirates.
Kearns links to a second Metro story. So we click. And there we learn:
Gunners could land Benzema if a significant offer is lodged, according to Spanish news outlet Fichajes.
We click again. And on that site we’re told:
The club’s intention is not to leave, but it depends on the offers
The story is, then. that Real Madrid COULD sell Benzema should any club offer them massive sum of money.
Posted: 24th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment
Arsenal balls: Gabriel has red card rescinded, Chelsea docked points?
The Football Association has released the following statement on the Chelsea v Arsenal game that saw the Blues’ whining striker Diego Costa sneak away from a red card and work to get an opponents sent off.:
Arsenal’s claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel has been upheld following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.
The player’s three-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate effect.
Gabriel was dismissed for violent conduct during the game against Chelsea on Saturday [19 September 2015].The player is currently subject to a separate FA charge of improper conduct in relation to Saturday’s game and has until 6pm on Thursday [24 September 2015] to reply.
The game saw Diego Costa get away with it. Chelsea went on to win 2-0. The pivotal moment was Gabriel’s sending off. Surely Chelsea should be docked points?
Posted: 22nd, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Chelsea balls: sneaky Diego Costa’s cheating is all matter of timing
Chelsea’s sneaky striker Diego Costa faces a three-match ban. the FA have charged the snide one with “an alleged act of violent conduct”.
He’s guilty as hello, of course, of shoving his hands and an elbow in Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny’s face? He then scratched the neck of Arsenal’s Gabriel, who reacted badly and got sent off. A three-match ban seems light for Costa, whose antics ruined the game. It’s also lamentable that his club manger, Jose Mourinho, thinks Costa’s antics are worthy of praise.
Writing in the Times, Oliver Kay focuses on Costa’s modus operandi:
Mike Dean, the referee, has been condemned in some quarters for failing to spot what was clear to everyone watching at home, but Costa, when he knows what he is doing, commits his offences so far off the ball that the officials are none the wiser. His attack on Koscielny happened almost as soon as a cross left César Azpilicueta’s boot. Had it gone as planned — and had the cross been better — Koscielny would have been out of the game, or would have taken mistimed retaliatory action, by the time that the officials caught up with play a second later.
He gets away with a lot, not because of the nature of his offences, but because of the way he times them.
Of course , when it comes to being sneaky, Mourinho shows the way:
Posted: 22nd, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Chelsea Balls: Diego Costa charged with violent conduct, Arsenal charged with failing to control players, FA triggers a small forest to die
The FA have slapped their danglies down on the desk this afternoon by chucking disciplinary charges at absolutely everybody involved in Saturday’s ding-dong between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Both Diego Costa and Gabriel Paulista have been charged with violent conduct, while both Chelsea and Arsenal have been charged with a failure to control their players.
Link to the FA statement is here…
All parties have until Thursday, 24th September to respond.
The FA statement in full:
Following the game between Chelsea and Arsenal on Saturday [19 September 2015], The FA has taken the following disciplinary action.
Diego Costa has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video. The Chelsea forward was involved in an incident with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game. He has until 6pm tomorrow [Tuesday 22 September 2015] to reply.
Off the ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees. Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending-off offence. For retrospective action to be taken, and an FA charge to follow, the decision by the panel must be unanimous.
Arsenal defender Gabriel has been charged with improper conduct for his behaviour following his dismissal, whilst team-mate Santi Cazorla has been warned for his behaviour following his sending off.
Finally, both clubs have been charged for failing to control their players under FA Rule E20.
Both clubs and Gabriel have until 6pm on Thursday [24 September 2015] to reply.
The amount of paperworks should signal the end of small forest. And it should keep the bloated FA nice and busy.
Posted: 21st, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Arsenal Balls: photos prove Chelsea’s Diego Costa scratched Gabriel
Diego Costa was not sent off during Chelsea’s game against Arsenal. But he should have been.
Posted: 20th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Back Pages: Mourinho to PSG, Chelsea cheat and prosper, Arsenal cry foul
Can it be that Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho is leaving the club? The Express leads with news that PSG want Mourinho at Paris. There is no sign that he will go but the paper says interest from the French champions offers the aggravating Portuguese an “escape“.
The Telegraph leads with Mourinho “goading” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following yesterday’s match, which ended 2-0 in Chelsea’s favour, thanks in no small part to the “disgusting” antics of Blues striker Diego Costa, of whom the Sun asks, “Is Costa dirtiest player in the Prem“.
The Express also zooms in on Costa, showing the player apparently dragging his nails and fist over the face of Laurent Koscielny. The news is that Wenger has called for Costa to be “banned“, which he hasn’t done.
What he said was:
“I wouldn’t like to be [referee] Mike Dean tonight because I cannot understand the situations. Twice he [Costa] should have been sent off.
“Look at the situation well before the cross comes in, he hits him [Laurent Koscielny] in the face on purpose. He makes a fuss of it. In every game there is aggravation but he gets away with it because of the weakness of the referee.
“We are guilty because we gave in on that and responded to it. We knew before the game that he was only looking for that and when he touches him he goes down like he has been killed.”
As for Mourinho goading Wenger, well not really. Sure the Chelsea manager issues his usual sleights and bitchy remarks but anyone still wound up by him needs to get over it and just wonder at how a 52-year-old can be petulant:
“I played my first derby as manager in September 2000 and I remember my words to my players. To win the derby – emotional control. I always repeat the same words before derbies. For me it was a fantastic performance [from Costa]. He played the game like the game has to be played. He’s fast, he’s aggressive and he’s good to recover the ball and offers us different qualities.”
The Guardian sums up:
… there is not a great deal to admire about Costa’s behaviour when he resorts to these levels of snideness and, unless Mourinho can tell us otherwise, there seems to be absolutely no desire within the club for him to change.
Blame Mourinho for Costa’s gamesmanship? Or just blame the referee for allowing it to go on?
Posted: 20th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Chelsea v Arsenal Balls: French TV viewers and Garth Crooks vote Mike Dean man of the match
Mike Dean man of the match arsenal
Premier League referee Mike Dean was voted Man of The Match for his performance officiating the Chelsea v Arsenal match. Dean became star of the show for sending off Arsenal’s for what is technically termed ‘something of nothing’.
Canal+ viewers named Dean their man of the match.
And Garth Crooks agreed:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho opted for Diego Costa, the player Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger called “disgusting”.
Posted: 19th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
Pravda Blues: Chelsea website report ignores Diego Costa’s snide skulduggery
Chelsea striker Diego Costa should have been sent off before Arsenal lost Gabriel for reacting during the Premier League today.
Let’s see what the infamously monocular official Chelsea website says about Costa. But first a few other source to provide context:
The most squalid part of the little exchange that ended Gabriel’s involvement is that we know enough about Costa’s skulduggery to say for sure that he will probably reflect on what happened as good play. Costa spends so long trying to pick arguments with opponents his credo seems to be that eventually someone will take the bait. More fool Gabriel that he was the one. Yet there is not a great deal to admire about Costa’s behaviour when he resorts to these levels of snideness and, unless Mourinho can tell us otherwise, there seems to be absolutely no desire within the club for him to change.
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Posted: 19th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment
