Arsenal Thread | 2024/25

[bridgeno1]

Arsenal develop a weapon and fans of other teams imply it must be illegal whilst also implying the refs must be somehow in cahoots with it all to let it happen!

 

[I'm With Stupid]

No rule is being broken. A player can stand in any position he wants, if that position is strategically to block a keepers pathway to the ball, then all's fine.

Absolute bollocks. They don't just stand in a particular position, they regularly barge into the keeper forcefully to prevent him from claiming the ball. Plenty of teams will put players near the keeper to make the area congested. Arsenal are the only team that run into him from a distance. And they're the only team that get away with it too. When one of City's players barged into Alisson preventing him from claiming the ball, we had a goal disallowed because of it. When your players did the same to Ederson, it wasn't even looked at.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Arsenal develop a weapon and fans of other teams imply it must be illegal whilst also implying the refs must be somehow in cahoots with it all to let it happen!

What they've done is noticed a loophole in the application of the law. They've realised that they don't give a foul on a player if they don't look like getting it. So if they can get on the keeper and foul him early enough, they won't get penalized because 'he was never getting there anyway.' (We've heard versions of this in the VAR conversations). Nevermind that the only reason he was never getting there was that he had two attackers running into him and preventing him from getting into position. It's also an unfair situation, because you know that if the keeper actually stands up for himself and does the same to the attackers, he will give away a penalty. Also notice I said a loophole in the application of the law, not a loophole in the law. The law is quite clear:

Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.

All players have a right to their position on the field of play; being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent.

Which is why standing near the goalkeeper, which most teams do, is fine, but running into the goalkeeper is not.

It reminds me of a few years ago when you would have players barging into players in the wall during free kicks or standing in the wall themselves. Or during the 2005 CL final where the goalkeeper was coming so far off his line during the penalties that he could've kicked the ball himself. On the one hand, fair play for spotting the loophole in enforcement and taking advantage of it, but on the other hand, we need that to be properly enforced now because it's taking the piss.

 

[GunnerGer]

What they've done is noticed a loophole in the application of the law. They've realised that they don't give a foul on a player if they don't look like getting it. So if they can get on the keeper and foul him early enough, they won't get penalized because 'he was never getting there anyway.' (We've heard versions of this in the VAR conversations). Nevermind that the only reason he was never getting there was that he had two attackers running into him and preventing him from getting into position. It's also an unfair situation, because you know that if the keeper actually stands up for himself and does the same to the attackers, he will give away a penalty. Also notice I said a loophole in the application of the law, not a loophole in the law. The law is quite clear:



Which is why standing near the goalkeeper, which most teams do, is fine, but running into the goalkeeper is not.

It reminds me of a few years ago when you would have players barging into players in the wall during free kicks or standing in the wall themselves. Or during the 2005 CL final where the goalkeeper was coming so far off his line during the penalties that he could've kicked the ball himself. On the one hand, fair play for spotting the loophole in enforcement and taking advantage of it, but on the other hand, we need that to be properly enforced now because it's taking the piss.

You need to watch Arsenals goals again from the other night mate. Here's a different angle from Timbers goal. Can't see anyone blocking or barging the keeper here.



It's different styles of set pieces, not just 1 that starts with a defender on the keeper.

The most consistent thing is the quality of the deliveries, whipped in with pace and in the 6 yard box.

Our team on Wednesday wasn't even particularly tall, without Gabriel, White and Calafiori. It was Timber and Partey than won the headers, one 5"10, one 6"1.

 

[bridgeno1]

You need to watch Arsenals goals again from the other night mate. Here's a different angle from Timbers goal. Can't see anyone blocking or barging the keeper here.



It's different styles of set pieces, not just 1 that starts with a defender on the keeper.

The most consistent thing is the quality of the deliveries, whipped in with pace and in the 6 yard box.

Our team on Wednesday wasn't even particularly tall, without Gabriel, White and Calafiori. It was Timber and Partey than won the headers, one 5"10, one 6"1.

The irony of course being that Nicolas Jover (the set piece coach at Arsenal) came to Arsenal from Man City!

 

[KentBlue]

You need to watch Arsenals goals again from the other night mate. Here's a different angle from Timbers goal. Can't see anyone blocking or barging the keeper here.

From one game, maybe. But that cannot possibly justify all the other games where you snide team have cheated to win games. Diving, feigning injuries, time wasting etc. Dress it up how you will, but you are only denying the truth because you are a supporter: the entire football world sees what has happened at your club and to a man they condemn you - vociferously. It says something when neutrals say they'd rather the dippers win the league than your collection of con merchants.

 

[GunnerGer]

From one game, maybe. But that cannot possibly justify all the other games where you snide team have cheated to win games. Diving, feigning injuries, time wasting etc. Dress it up how you will, but you are only denying the truth because you are a supporter: the entire football world sees what has happened at your club and to a man they condemn you - vociferously. It says something when neutrals say they'd rather the dippers win the league than your collection of con merchants.

Honestly mate, it doesn't really bother me. I don't want neutrals to want us to win the league mate, that means nothing at the end of the day, were you really bothered a lot of neutrals didn't want City to win the league because of the charges? If anything I bet it made it all the the more sweeter?!

What you are accusing us every club / player does do varying degrees. Sometimes I do think we take it too far, occasionally it does frustrate me a tad, but at the same time, I watch Saka get fouled blatantly and see folk accusing him of taking another dive, so sometimes there's nothing more blinkered than a football supporter, I appreciate that as one myself.

 

[bennyboy]

Are they the new Stoke because both teams have not won the premier league in their new grounds.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

You need to watch Arsenals goals again from the other night mate. Here's a different angle from Timbers goal. Can't see anyone blocking or barging the keeper here.



It's different styles of set pieces, not just 1 that starts with a defender on the keeper.

The most consistent thing is the quality of the deliveries, whipped in with pace and in the 6 yard box.

Our team on Wednesday wasn't even particularly tall, without Gabriel, White and Calafiori. It was Timber and Partey than won the headers, one 5"10, one 6"1.

Yeah I didn't say they did it last night (not on the goals anyway, I didn't see the corners they didn't score), just that they regularly do it.

Although looking at the second corner from this video, they are blatantly attempting to do it.



Saliba is in a perfect position to challenge for the ball, but instead of doing so, he deliberately backs into Onana to prevent him from claiming the ball. On this occasion, Onana literally has to push Saliba away before punching, and as a result, his punch is shit, leading to a chance for Arsenal. Don't act like everyone does this on a regular basis. It's just you.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

Absolute bollocks. They don't just stand in a particular position, they regularly barge into the keeper forcefully to prevent him from claiming the ball. Plenty of teams will put players near the keeper to make the area congested. Arsenal are the only team that run into him from a distance. And they're the only team that get away with it too.When one of City's players barged into Alisson preventing him from claiming the ball, we had a goal disallowed because of it. When your players did the same to Ederson, it wasn't even looked at.

I think you meant, "When one of City's players didn't barge into Alisson in no way preventing him from claiming the ball, we had a goal disallowed because of it." I'm sure you meant to add that this cost us two points but still didn't stop us winning the title.