You can question the quality of some of Arsenal’s football. But you cannot question their character. Still some way to go to the finishing line but Arsenal don’t look like slowing up. When Manchester City applied pressure in the title race, Arsenal responded. They found a way to win. They fought hard. Gabriel and Rice particularly immense. Arsenal are battlers, not the “bottlers” as their critics derisively depicted them. They're resilient.
You can question Arteta’s use of set-pieces (24 of 61 goals in PL), the unseemly wrestling and occasional caution. But you also have to admire that in a crunch moment Arsenal’s manager sent on a 16-year-old ball-player with 28 minutes’ PL experience to turn the game against an obdurate Everton. Dowman delivered.
Max stretches headroom at the top for Arsenal. Hard to dislike a team with a talent like Dowman. He brings more adventure. The clamour now will be for him to play more. Dowmania. And just wait for the inevitable World Cup speculation, media frenzy, Theo revisited, but don't forget the group stage clashes with GCSEs. Let's not put too much pressure and expectation on Dowman (although he sounds like he can handle it and has good people around him, including Arteta).
Arteta also deserves credit for the way he has evolved this side. He’s bought/chosen well (Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Zubimendi, Gyokeres etc), loaned in well (Hincapie) while Hale End plays its part (Saka, MLS, Dowman).
If they keep holding their nerve, Arsenal will deserve this first title since the Invincibles. They don’t quicken the pulse like some past champions but the Indestructibles absolutely deserve more respect than they receive. #AFC
@footballconfid1@NotCharlieKingy@TeleFootball We saw a lot of horrendous mistakes and decisions from officials before VAR. These referees are just poor at their jobs. They either need retraining, some level of accountability, some sort of discipline when they make appalling decisions, or some firing.
@TeleFootball VAR needs to be kept to get things right when there are significant errors.
However, our referees make shambolic and appalling decisions, which call for the retraining of these referees. In some jobs, some of them would have been fired by now with those kinds of decisions.
@JuceeRob@TeleFootball VAR needs to be kept to get things right when there are significant errors.
However, our referees make shambolic and appalling decisions, which call for the retraining of these referees. In some jobs, some of them would have been fired by now with those kinds of decisions.
@CFCFico@premierleague@ManCity This is just a normal goal, mate.
I would be embarrassed on behalf of the football world if this Palmer's goal is awarded as the goal of the season.
@terryflewers@anxiousandrw@FA_PGMOL I am always amazed at people not being able to own up when they make mistakes. People are so far away from integrity that they would rather lie to defend something they did wrong instead of owning up and being accountable. Unfortunately, @FA_PGMOL continues to lose our trust.
@FAspokesperson@Arsenal@premierleague Can these people stop being petty?
An error by your referee, an error which you overturned, is it not obvious to you guys at the FA that this charge is extremely childish, immature, and petty?
I saw it and laughed.
@Brett_leverton@henrywinter You have put this excellently well.
I believe strongly in protecting a system. However, this should not be at the expense of transparency and integrity.
The signs do not point to this being an honest mistake, IMO.
@themichaelowen Is that how you move on from serious issues in your life?
Or you don't appreciate the seriousness of poor officiating in EPL?
I hope you didn't type this.
Otherwise, it tells me a lot about you.