By Ian Grant
So the Premiership is bent. This game was confirmation. Rooney dives. Riley who has given Man U seven penalties in the last eight games he has reffed them, obliged. Would Collina have given that?
Professionals and ex-players are in unison here. Gerrard, Hansen, Strachan and Moyes all said no penalty. The slowmos showed no contact.
And we wonder why the Premiership is in decline.
As for the foul from Ferdinand on Ljungberg – this was Old Trafford, and normal football rules don’t apply.
Relatively unbiased Alan Hansen said: “it was a foul, so he had to go. That’s why Riley didn’t give it.”
If Sol Campell had knocked van Nistelroy in the same position the other end – a red card, no doubt. Gerrard and Moyes agreed.
As for van Nistelroy’s savage but sly attack on Cole’s knee. An obvious red card for violent play. But again at the Theatre of Dreams refereeing reality doesn’t apply. Alan Hansen said : “it was a disgrace.” Jeff Winter said it was malicious with intent and could have wrecked Ashley Cole’s career. What was the assistant looking at ten yards away? Still he’s been called to the FA to answer the charge serious foul play on Thursday.
The only answer. Foreign referees, with no agendas, historical or otherwise; Video replays and an adjudicating panel. If they had been used this season Man U would have been denied at least a point via a handball equaliser.
And, if that system was in place, then yes Man U would have a justified penalty, when Cole brought down Ronaldo. Cameras in the tunnel may even have identified it was a prawn sandwich, not tomato or pea soup.
Arsenal had the better of the first half. But Man U had the better of the second. They looked the more menacing, the more likely to score. Arsenal didn’t deserve to win. But they didn’t deserve to lose, given the decisions.
Arsenal had chances – notably Henry at the end of the first half. But with Carroll to beat he finished weakly. Again he went missing in a big game, (partly down to Phil Neville) which along with Lehmann’s European form doesn’t bode well for the Champions League.
Bergkamp could have controlled the ball better for a chance. And Ashley Cole had a good chance at the death.
Toure should take some responsibility for giving the ball away which ultimately lead to the penalty. But there again he cost around about one hundreth of his counterpart Rio Ferdinand. And this continual struggle against financial gravity (Man U’s squad £180m; Arsenal’s £82m, according to a Telegraph article) is bound to count against them from time to time.
As for the 49 game sequence – that is completely artificial as the Kewell handball winner for Leeds, wasn’t spotted by the referee. With cameras, who knows Arsenal may have broken Milan’s European record at 58.
This result effectively opens the way for Chelsea. Bad news.
If Arsenal aren’t going to retain the title, then I prefer a ‘potential football side – albeit not seen yesterday’ with English tradition like Man U to win it (lesser of two evils) rather than Reconstituted Soviet State Assets (RSSA), which is effectively a business, not a sporting club.
If Chelsea win it, then Premiership football is truly on the way to terminal decline – unless of course the authorities bring in the wage cap.