Arsenal battled to three points at Molineux this afternoon after a second half Riccardo Calafiori goal was enough for all three points.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was absurdly sent off in the first half by Michael Oliver, yet again making himself the main character in one of our games, but after around his 9th foul of the day, Wolves’ Joao Gomes got a second yellow and it was 10 men each.
David Raya was strong in goal for Arsenal when he needed to be, and there were chances for us to score before and after the red, but the win is all that matters.
Here’s how the players rated this evening.
Read the Wolves 0-1 Arsenal match report and see the goal here
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10 to everyone from me today. Fought like hell.
P.S. I know we desperately need bodies & the teams around him sucks, but I don’t think we should be losing our heads over Cunha.
Cunha…. people are weird.. not better than Eddie
Would be an absolute waste of money
Vlahovic is on the bench for Juve today
So many fans just want us to buy for the sake of buying. But if we buy someone average like Cunha they’ll be exactly like the little kid with the shiny new toy, a month later the toy will be in the pile of the old boring toys and they’ll cry for a new one again.
Its called planning every manager does it. Hello we need a striker yesterday.
Don’t tell me Havartz is the answer SIR
Who’s saying buy for the sake of buying? That’s BS. We need to buy to bolster an obviously weak attack and to provide cover for the horrendous injuries we continue to suffer. It’s not fkn rocket science mate. Enough of the “don’t even think of someone unless it’s me fkn perfect that walks thru the door”…else we’re gonna win fck all this year. Have some ambition ffs.
Cunha is a decent player but worries me with his attitude. Throws is hands up criticising team mates mid- game. If on bench or something I can see him being a sulker and not a team player. To win the Premiership you need a fully committed squad who put the team before themselves
To me he would not be a back- up to another striker but then I think he would sulk. Prefer others we have been linked with
I agree. He seems like the hybrid between the arrogance of Neymar and attitude of Richarlson.
Areteta worked hard to get rid of bad influences like Auba, to get the current humility in the team. Cunha is not for this team!
Torn on this point to be honest. When we signed Trossard he was presented the same way in the media and for a mid season signing, I think it’s hard to find fault in him. Imperfect but arguably the best finisher in the club; a team player; works hard. So the general perception of Cunha as grumpy and discontent at a potential relegation team may just be representative of his need to be at a higher level team. I don’t know but worth consideration…
The MLS red card is why I think they shouldn’t sign anyone. The PGMOL will keep their thumb on the scale in every match. New players won’t help that. Keep the powder dry until the summer.
And next season?
Hopefully we will be healthier next season with a lot of our players closer to their peak and maybe that will be enough to overcome the crooked refereeing.
Meantime there is a less crooked competition that we are still in, Champions League.
The less crooked competition where you get to the final against the poster boys, and your keeper gets sent off in minutes?
Fuck all of the refs, hope they all get flesh eating scabies of the ringpiece
Same PGMOL next season.
What an incompetent fucking ref. Can’t even fix a match properly. His paymasters should demand a refund!
Blogs, give MLS a 10/10, that will be a proper “fuck you Oliver rating”
Fuck him
Yes,yes fuck him too( every epl ref)
What’s next on the “red card that isn’t a red” bingo sheet? My money is on “Raya makes a save with his hands”.
Ffs don’t give them ideas!
That’ll be fun to complain about.
Gabriel and Partey for not having their surnames on their shirts. Declan Rice for not being Damien Rice. Timber for reading Viz on the team bus.
Haha I’ve not read Viz in years. Nice to be reminded of it.
That might be one, that ex-players,
will tend to disagree with
Fuck Michael Oliver
Who else knew that the Andrew’s comment on Michael Oliver would be repeated 12 more times after reading the first one?
Yes “lazy journalism”” but Oliver Twisted is a twat c…t … there sd have been a fuck Darren England in the VAR with a fk Lee Mason for past disgraces to his federation of fkwits …. happy with 1-0 tho very gutsy.
No thanks!
10/10 for Calafiori’s chaotic celebrations
I love them so much!! Hahahha the guy is beside himself.
Did you notice that he was fighting to not take his top off, probably worried that he’d get a red card for it too!
I loved Saliba’s facial expression too when Calafiori scored!
Gutsy performance. Kudos to the coaching staff for the second half tactics. We didn’t look a man down.
As for the officiating, it’s just comical. If Gomez gets a second yellow card for his stamp on Timber, how’s MLS’ deemed a straight red?
Didnt even consider this. Absurdly laughable decision.
And furthermore: laughably absurd.
what if Xh..sorry MLS did it
Pulling a player back by his shirt of tripping him to prevent a counter attack is normally punished with a yellow card. In this instance, MLS has intended to just trip Docherty but inadvertently landed his studs on his shin above the ankle. I think that’s why it was deemed serious foul play and warranted a red card.
Was anyone like me at 90 mins….. a great ball winning interception by Raya edge of the box and he’s looking at Michael Oliver to see is he going to give a penalty and a possible straight red?
For me one of the worst things (besides the bullshit decision obviously) is the number of pundits trying to justify it. It’s absolute bollocks, that fucker couldn’t wait to get the red out and VAR agreed in a matter of seconds. Not one of them mentioned this fuckers track record of red cards against us. If they’re unaware of it then they are stealing a living.
So ,so happy(sorry Pep) with the teams reaction and the result but absolutely fucking livid that fucker Oliver is allowed anywhere near one of our matches.
I heard the BBC 5 live commentary dismayed by the decision, as was Shearer and the Sky commentary team. Dean tried to justify it (of course) but no one else.
I watched on Peacock and Lee Hendrie was backing the refs super hard. And doubled down by defending the Gomes decision. It was really cringe to listen to.
Yes, that was the one I was watching. Hendrie was bizarre , he seemed to be arguing with himself , saying it was a bad decision but also the right one.
He was probably just upset that he was missing his wife banging her boyfriend.
Urgh, I had to mute the two of them on that stream because they didn’t have an ounce of insight between them, and were quite clearly just reciting talking points off a checklist throughout that entire first 40 minutes. Lee What’s-His-Name can justify it all he wants, but the broadcasters whose names actually carry some weight weren’t, and that’s finally a step in the right direction as far as the pgmol debacle goes.
I watch the games on mute for this very reason.
Here in India, the woman commentator on the telecast did mention about the 2 yellows in few seconds to Marti. But ultimately, I guess the TV commentators are forced to tow the line and not call the corruption for what it is. They are probably told not to question the integrity of the competition which is in truth lacking due to the refereeing. Olivers stats against Arsenal are enough for any one to see the corruption involved.
The team coped with that absolute nonsense really well and huge credit for taking the win. As fans we were fuming watching it, so can’t imagine the rage you’d feel on the pitch. I just don’t have this anxiety with officials watching us in the UCL…tbh I don’t even think about them. Yet when it comes to EPL I get anxious when we have a throw-in because some dipshit wants to fling cards about.
haha, same. I have PTSD on throw ins because of the Tomiyasu yellow!
Ref should not ref us again
Everyone is talking about Michael Oliver and saying he is not a very good referee.
He’s bent.
Is this an AI summary of the comments section?
I think you got it just about right, Sir John.
How can Oliver continue as a referee?! He’s not even pretending to be impartial at this point. Yet again, he makes himself the focal point by altering the flow of the game with an excessively harsh decision against Arsenal. He needs to be retired.
Retired with extreme prejudice.
Its absolute bullshit that over 95% of comments after and even during a game, are about refereeing in some way.
The game is being torn apart right in front of our eyes.
It is painful. It is scary. It is both incompetence and corruption….
….and i hate the PGMOL for turning this beautiful game to UGLY
#Fcuk meekOliver
It beats blaming the players, manager and owners for our shortcomings.
Yeah f*ck him the useless c*nt
I’ll be extremely surprised if Arsenal doesn’t try to appeal this decision.
I think we have to appeal. We have to call his judgement in public. We don’t want him near an arsenal match again.
Arteta in his comments rolling the pitch beautifully for the appeal. Even left it open to the PGMOL to correct it without an appeal.
FUCK MICHAEL OLIVER
Leaving aside the obvious twattery, there were still things we need to resolve. Kai missed another couple, Tross corners were so bad, our successful cross ratio was 17%, we still lacked central penetration .
But still, Fuck Michael Oliver!
Why is trossy allowed to take them? I don’t get it. Havertz missed three sitters actually #havertzsitterswatch
Havertz is a hard working dedicated Arsenal player but he misses easy goals way too often he must improve his finishing to take the pressure off our depleted squad.
Kai was pretty unlucky not to score those headers before the red card. After that he understandably didn’t get many chances, but worked his socks off and held the ball up well. Trossard isn’t left footed and is our third choice option for corners with Ode and Saka out. But ya, definitely Fuck Michael Oliver!
Oh yeah I forgot. He was unlucky and worked his socks off. Again.
You do know he’s scored 14 goals (plus 4 assists) in 39 games this season don’t you?
Oh yeah, and 8 in the PL where it counts. 14th in the scoring charts, you do know that, right?
Have you looked at our league position recently or reflected on the points we’ve dropped and why? So tedious hearing you moan and criticise when we’re such a quality team. By all means offer a balanced critique, but slagging off our top scorer is pathetic.
Yes! I have! We’ve dropped points because of a dreadfully weak forward line. Have you been asleep the last 3 months? Doh!
Great cross, great header and fantastic save. It happens. The other headers were nowhere near easy. Havertz was immense today. Basically kept us in the game with his hold-up and link-up play
Missing chances doesn’t mean you’re unlucky, just incompetent. I didn’t see any bare feet at the end so did no-one ‘work their socks off?’
Trossard’s corners were horrific but he put several really good crosses in with his left foot, 2 of which Kai should’ve scored on. He did much better than Martinelli on the opposite wing
Agreed. Martinelli has been a busted flush for months, Havertz continues to miss gilt edged chances, Trossard on corners seems to think he’s playing against a tribe of pgymys, Nwaneri was invisible but young players blow hot and cold. We need to cool the hype about MLS, as he’s still learning his craft. The team showed great resilience and cojones after the red card and you would be hard pressed to determine who had been reduced to 10 men. We’re in a top four race as the Carabao Cup and Champions League are but idyllic but delusional day dreams
The one weekend James doesn’t do an after the game reaction video – is the one weekend we NEEEEEEED HIM.
I would award Califiori and Raya joint MOTM. Raya didn’t have a lot of work but made some difficult saves. Whether it was whatever Arteta said at half time or Califiori coming on, the latter really elevated the team.
Cunha didn’t impress. I know its unlikely, but as a Canadian gooner, I’d love to see Arsenal grab Jonathon David from Lille in the window.
I would be all about Jonathan David.
Seeing as he only has 6 months left on his contract, he would probably come pretty cheap.
Raya’s saves from Cunha and Aït-Nouri were both superb and pivotal in getting the win
Big cadeau to the players for staying calm. Bad decisions from Oliver again and again.
A big present to the players? Sure, why not? Maybe you meant chapeau?
Mr MO Ratface couldn’t stop the win 🤠
No VaR review, you say. Ha! Bet they’d already decided something similar in the car journey. Corrupt.
They have neither forgotten nor forgiven Artetas public rant about their complete incompetence a couple of seasons ago. When decisions both on the pitch & in the VAR booth are subjective & blatantly poor decisions rarely acknowledged it’s all too easy to exact revenge with impunity.
you took the words right off my mouth…
I didn’t get to see the game I am on new baby duty with other grandkids. Sounds as if the team demonstrated in spades why I like this team so much, the fight. Love this team.
After careful consideration of the ratings and all the comments, I have decided that there can be only one conclusion from this glorious victory: Fuck Michael Oliver!
This is the same Oliver who refused to give Kovacic a second yellow for a challenge worse than today but of course a straight red is justified, and don’t get me started on var , either incompetence or corruption.. either way this is a joke.
Arteta needs to say something with some facts thrown in, such as 8 red cards to Liverpool’s 1 by this clown, and not worry about the touchline ban!!!
FUCK MICHAEL OLIVER
No thanks!
C’mon… take one for the team.
I think the ratings for Partey here are consistently harsh. He’ll have his moments, but this season he’s been available, professional, and when he’s played centrally, he is just so smooth and solid. Today he was excellent.
Absolutely agree. He never really gets the credit he deserves. Yet when he doesn’t play through the middle, we tend to be found wanting.
Didn’t see the decision, but didn’t need to. Fuck Michael Oliver.
Hope I’m not in the dock when you’re on jury duty
This is a farce. You’ve talked about it in the blog and on the cast many times, the PGMOL and refs wanting the spotlight. The red card and Michael Oliver are the big talking points of the game, not our gutsy performance with 10 men or the title race. It’s exactly what the refs want, the attention.
Might be time for the club to call corruption.
Yester-year!!!!
Michael Oliver is the face of corruption in the Premier League. I don’t even see how it can be beyond doubt anymore. I genuinely don’t understand how the referees have so much power in this country to close ranks and just not be accountable for ANYTHING.
Its so so sad.. im secretly waiting/hoping for a
fed-up whistleblower of sorts to come out of the cracks.
Whistleblower. See what you did there.
Fuck Michael Oliver
some people would see what happened and think, foul, yellow card…he sees an opportunity
Marvellous
9/10 to Lewis Skelly for making the kind of professional fouls Arsenal players are often too nice to make and becoming the latest poster boy of Michael Oliver’s incompetent corrupt campaign against the Arsenal
Michael Oliver is corrupt. A serial Arsenal cheat together with his sad corrupt mates at PGMOL.
To a man they gave their all. I feel for them as they were running on fumes. The Wolves sending off gave us the extra umph we needed. But, by ‘eck Oliver is a massive twat and refereeing is shocking. I’d be interested to see side by side stats of decisions for us and other top four teams this year.
Fuck Michael Oliver
Well said. Couldn’t agree more. FMO! FMO! FMO!
(And Darren England).
Fuck Michael Oliver
Fuck Michael Oliver
FUCK MICHAEL OLIVER!
I know he’s going to leave the club soon but Tierney is such a good crosser, probably the best on the team. Whenever he gets a few minutes on the pitch he sends in a really good cross into the box. Shame we haven’t been able to take better advantage of them
True, but like our corners, Jover and Teta prefer in-swinging crosses, i think
The sooner we realise Jover isn’t the greatest mind in the history of football, the better.
Yep, fantastic player.They just can’t keep him fit. I doubt Celtic will have much better luck.
Turned the game off at halftime and emailed the prem some choice words. Gave all the lads a 10, ‘Ricky’ is a legend.
How in God’s name was that a straight red card? VAR didn’t intervene as well. The bias is so clear now.
Cunha big no
Osameh no
Viktor Gyökeres yes yes yes
I actually thought we played better with 10 men, maybe we are getting used to it. On top of the striker we really need to be looking at upgrading Martinelli on the left. He tries but his end product isn’t enough for a title chasing team. He would be a good impact sub but shouldn’t be starting. Raya was immense today when we needed him and if Rice can learn to break though the lines a bit more with his running he can take up the number 8 role. He has more goals in him and often looks the most… Read more »
A minus 0.5 point for every one of our players who went and shook the refs hand after the match.
If Arsenal MUST have a striker / forward this January window and would pay 60 million for him at the end of the season, surely the club would be prepared to pay 75 – 80 million now (rather than bring in a stopgap they won’t want at the end of the season). It makes economic sense. Watch this space.
In other words, paying a big premium now will save money. I know it makes sense!
Fuck mike oliver
I just came here to say FUCK MICHAEL OLIVER again.
Fuck Michael Oliver…10/10 for the guts we showed in finding a way to win this game…but please Havertz can you dramatically improve your finishing because had you done so with one of those first two chances none of this nonsense would have happened.