The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26 - thread 4

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5481141-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202526-thread-3?page=40&reply=151472506

The only one that anyone has been able to show me happened a couple of seasons ago when Ben White was holding the goalkeeper's arm down.

That one was disallowed as well...

Blame the standard of refereeing and VAR, not the team.

I don't think Arteta helped by saying he would have agreed it was the right decision if he were the opposition manager. He so wouldn't.

I feel sorry for the West Ham fan though.

Huge game tonight.

But it is virtually impossible to referee when players are wrestling each other so you can't really blame the referees. The rules need to change.

And if Arsenal players do it more than anyone else, then they need to be punished. I am fed up being accused of doing all sorts. Just punish us if what we are doing is wrong.

It's part of the narrative - "Arsenal are always fouling the 'keeper".

Well, no, because the one time we did it, the goal was disallowed.

What we do is put bodies in the way of the 'keeper and defenders in order to create space for big Gabby or whoever to come in and attack the ball. It's plainly obvious if you watch any games.

I agree about the two arms around a player. I wish we didn't do that. And I wish it wasn't so frequently done to us! But it's funny that all we're hearing is how Declan Rice did it (while Raya was being fouled), but there's barely a mention of the almost comically bad instance by Bernardo Silva the day before...

Indeed, here's a compilation of all our goals scored from corners this season. As the poster says - I can't see any fouls on the 'keeper among them.

https://bsky.app/profile/goonernation.bsky.social/post/3mll3hs5bas23

VARsenal VARsenal VARsenal

Oh dear...

It was a foul. The issue is where similar has not been called for foul play elsewhere.

Probably saved Spurs from relegation, comedians will not have a lot of extra material.

I can't remember when it was but I remember us having a goal disallowed because Ben White fouled someone. I remember it clearly because I was so angry with Ben White.

I don't remember Arteta complaining about that so I don't really think that he would have complained if one of our players had held down the arm of a goalkeeper.

They're calling it out as Arsenal Derangement Syndrome - ADS - on bluesky. The number of supposedly respected "sports journalists" arguing, basically, "yes, it was a foul, but the goal should stand. Because it's Arsenal", is staggering.

And the pundits are even worse. Shay Given was dreadful on MoTD2! It was down to Danny Murphy (yes, Danny Murphy who has hated Arsenal since Thierry Henry skinned him by the corner flag!) to be the voice of reason, "because it's Arsenal".

It would be sad if it wasn't so hilarious...

I don't know, Arteta loves to whinge

it was 2023 against Leicester

Well, you're not wrong there.

Yes and what gets me is that he wasn't just holding an arm across his chest. He was literally holding his arm down with his hand.

How anyone could think that they could get away with holding down the arm of a goalkeeper is beyond me.

The people who were saying that the goal should have been allowed to stand should be forced to have their team's goalkeeper play corners with their arms behind their backs.

Ah but it was against Arsenal so of course the decision was wrong....
I was watching Simon Jordan and Marin Keown arguing earlier - Jordan was saying it was the right decision but but but but the Arsenal commentators, e.g Keown and Ian Wright don't help as their too biased etc etc. They do love to try and kick us down at every opportunity.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain, yes we need to save our energy for the Conference League Final!

Also, I've only just realised that the FA cup final is this Saturday. I thought it was always after the last PL game.

In which case I am so pleased that we were knocked out.

Even if we don't win the PL or the CL, at least we will have had the best chance of winning.

Yes, I am hoping 8 days rest will help with any niggles/injuries.

Can only hope City drop more points tonight too.

Today marks 30 years since Eric scored the winner in the FA Cup Final.

I too have had it in my head that it's always been the last game of the season but I also remember it has differed season by season. Probably because you think it should be the last game so your mind plays tricks on you 🤷🏻‍♀️

City playing on Wednesday, not tonight.

As do Arsenal fans! 😉 (Light-hearted, guys, before I get an absolute pile-on!!)

Ha ha. We sure do.

As it was all unfolding yesterday, all I could think was why we find it impossible to manage a game when we only have a few minutes left and put ourselves in such situations which means that people hate us even more than they do already.

And that idiot fan who brought a Champions shirt with him should be banned for life!

After Spurs drew against Leeds tonight, and given they’ve got 2 matches left, just wondering if anyone knows what the likelihood is of them staying up?? I was so so hoping they’d win.

Well the stats after the match have the comparison of Spurs and West Ham. The Opta relegation chance is saying 15% Spurs and 85% West Ham. 😫

I honestly think West Ham are more likely to get something from their final two games - and I say that as a Newcastle fan who they are playing on Sunday…

I can’t see spurs getting anything at Chelsea or at home to Everton.