From Brendan : Chelsea match is the straw that broke the camel’s back
Myles,
Maybe you’re right, maybe it’s all Wenger’s fault that we lost so horribly to Chelsea.
Maybe it’s how he instills a way of thinking into players, or fails to do so.
Certainly, the one thing I can say is that we don’t have an outlet in a player or two who can take the pressure off by scoring a goal in a tight game. That we can definitely say is Wenger’s responsibility.
But that’s not what I wanted to write to you about.
I was talking with my friend in the car on the way to band rehearsal today and we both agreed (incidentally he supports Liverpool) that Costa’s behaviour and the lack of action against it on the part of the referee are utterly disgraceful. He’s a rugby fan, and I’m not, but I can’t help agreeing with him that the contrast between the sportsmanship in the game of rugby is so much superior. Both of us agreed that after watching the highlights of the Arsenal – Chelsea game on MOTD, neither of us had the appetite for any more.
Quite honestly, if Diego Costa can get away with that in a football game and the opposition team ends up with 9 men, and the foul count against Costa at the end of the game reads ‘0’, it’s time to give up.
And, honestly, unlike in previous seasons when I suffer our defeats to Chelsea, this year, I just feel indifferent. It’s not really sport any more.
I had to put up with idiots – abusive, aggressive and arrogant idiots – like Diego Costa when I was at school because I had no choice. And to a lesser extent at University.
The great thing about being me in my early 40s is that I don’t have to put up with it. And I don’t intend to. The referee’s (and other officials’) oversights in the Chelsea match really make the whole affair farcical.
Yes, part of my frustration is that my team plays with a striker who doesn’t know how to play as a striker.
But most of it is the unbelievable ridiculousness of Diego Costa’s behaviour.
He could have had three straight reds and ended up with not a single foul against him. Last season, in the first three months, he probably should have had three reds in matches and got nothing. That is probably enough to give Chelsea the league title.
The Premier League is a farce. Really! I expect the old Wenger-this Wenger-that arguments will continue to dominate on ANR and of course there’s room for them, but looking at the ‘bigger picture’ after that match I don’t take the Premier League seriously as a competition, I don’t think there is any moral centre in it and I think if it carries on like that I’ll get into volleyball or something.
Forget this pathetic, bullying + handbags + petulance + being a bloody psycho and getting away with it.
I don’t want to see that any more, and I don’t really want my son to see it. I’m heading for pastures new.
From Michael : Gabriel
Hi Myles,
I hope you are well.
In your response to Gareth you said that Keown, Dixon or Vieira would have told Gabriel to stop, but in that passage of the game Gabriel standing up to Costa for a gouge, a swipe to the face plus a chest barge on Koscielny was actually him being our Keown, Dixon and Vieira.
Yes, he shouldn’t have petulantly kicked out but that was after Costa should have been sent off and after standing up for a team mate who was fouled beyond the rules of the game and the ref did bugger all.
Costa got away with it again.
Arsenal have been crying out for players with passion who will stand up for each other.
It has sadly been lacking over the last few years but Gabriel’s initial reaction from my point of view was pleasing to see. He wasn’t going to accept his central defensive partner being pushed around so he put himself in there.
I really wish the rest of the squad could show that passion and fight for each other because that’s what title-winning teams need. Arsenal need more Gabriels, they need leaders.
Myles says:
Fast & rugged, Gabriel should develop into a dominating centreback.
By ignoring Costa’s fouls, by not reacting, Koscielny was making the striker more provocative as those skirmishes went on.
Next meeting will be a litmus test.
Gabriel has to be cooler, has to learn not to fall for it. Kos didn’t fall for it.