re: Match Day 2/21

GREAT weekend so far. Gunners win, United lose, Sp*rs and Chelsea drop points. Need a Pool/Soton draw to finish it off

I enjoy watching Chelsea drop points. It doesn't have to directly impact Arsenal for that to occur. For example, I also enjoyed watching Cavani knock in the equalizer Tuesday, and that has nothing to do with Arsenal.

It's not a difficult concept to grasp, but perhaps my post could have more clearly pointed that out.

Howard and Lukaku are both fricking terrible

would have been epic if he fell down with that wife

Gibson yes,

Atsu has been 95% trash. As in, first time playing soccer.

Welcome to the Brad Guzan era of the USMNT. Howard has officially jumped the shark. He and Lukaku have been atrocious.

I had hopes for Atsu post AFCON but he was very poor until just recently. We certainly need threats on the wing though

Predicting Martinez:

"We deserved better than a draw"

frick off

Outrage over Matic red card

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Ex-England defender Gary Neville wrote on Twitter: ‘Matic completely entitled to react and not a red in context of what happened to him.’

Speaking on BBC Radio, former England winger Chris Waddle said: ‘It was a terrible challenge. It is the worst challenge in football, anybody who goes over the top, and it was high, it was a leg-breaker. Matic’s reaction was basically every player’s.
‘People who have never been booked like Gary Lineker would have retaliated to that because it was a shocking challenge.

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson said: ‘The referee gets it all wrong. You have to use common sense, as Barnes could have broken Matic's leg and so the natural reaction is he’s going to get up and push him. And the referee did not even book Barnes, while he did caution Ivanovic for arguing.

'Surely the referee should not have seen it? But if he does, he has to send him off though. He had a terrible game, with two stonewall penalties missed as well.

David Walsh of the Sunday Times wrote: ‘Barnes’s outstretched right leg caught the Chelsea player high up on the right shin with his studs. It was the kind of tackle that nowadays draws a red card. The sending off changed the game.'

Matt Hughes of the Sunday Times wrote: ‘Barnes’ escape offended the principles of natural justice, particularly given subsequent events.’

Darren Lewis, of the Daily Mirror, wrote on Twitter: ‘Push from Matic is a reaction to almost having his leg broken. Instead of dismissing him the referee should have been protecting him. Tackle was shocking. I’d like to see the footballer who doesn’t react that angrily to almost having his leg broken.’

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MotD agrees Atkinson had a terrible game

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‘I have to agree with him,’ said Shearer. ‘I think Martin Atkinson had a terrible game.
‘Ashley Barnes goes up for the header with Ivanovic, he leads with his foot and he’s very fortunate. You can see he kicks out with his studs into the back of the hamstring and that should be a yellow card.’

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‘That’s blatant handball by Michael Kightly. The referee’s got a brilliant view, he’s about 10 yards away. Kightly turns his back and sticks his arm out, it has to be a penalty.’

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The pundits said Ashley Barnes should have been dismissed for his horrific tackle on Matic, and totally understood the Serbian’s reaction.

‘It’s a horrific tackle, it really is,’ said Shearer. ‘It’s dangerous, it’s naughty and it’s terrible. I understand Matic’s reaction, it’s not right but I understand it because he could have had his leg broken. It’s a terrible tackle and for that, Matic is going to miss the cup final next week, which is a disaster for him and Chelsea. It really is a terrible and naughty tackle, he could easily have broken Matic’s leg. He doesn’t even get a yellow card in the game at all.

Savage added: ‘He should have been booked for the first challenge and that should have been a straight red for Ashley Barnes.

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