By Sumaiya Vawda
Scorelines of 3-1 and 4-2 in Arsenal’s two matches since the leagues’s return don’t reflect the moments when those ties could have swung away from the Gunners. A come-from-behind victory against West Ham and the withstanding of a late storm at the Amex held a sense of justice - the universe making amends to seasoned Arsenal fans.
When Jarrod Bowen won a penalty for the mildest contact with Saliba, the tragedy plotline was firmly in motion. In this arc Arsenal are denied a goal because of the slightest touch and their opponents benefit from the referee applying the harshest interpretation of the rules by awarding a penalty.
Will Arsenal be able to overcome the deficit? Alas, even with the great man looking on, this Arsenal side, unlike latter Wenger teams, showed no trouble with mental hurdles. The times are truly changing when even the commentators dare not count out Arteta’s men.
The tides of justice, as they say, tend to ebb and flow. Against the seagulls, Gabriel was shown a yellow card for dithering on the ball and a minute later Partey received the same for a mild indiscretion.
Both of those cards seemed like the referee’s balancing of the books as he was earlier pressured to book Billy Gilmour. Players like Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes can remonstrate with a referee for an entire game and not see a card brandished, thus making such heavy-handed punishment villainous.
There appears to be a pattern with Bukayo Saka and fouls. Defenders get to mete out their worst in trying to contain him and the very first retaliation from Saka is yellow-carded. In this game, that yellow card came in the 54th minute. In fact the Englishman has four yellow cards in the League and only one opposing player has been booked for a foul against him. If that pattern continues, conspiracy theories will receive more sympathy.
These yellows, however, heightened the delight when Sarmiento was yellow-carded for a dive (instead of getting the free-kick he desired). And the New Year’s ribbon was flourished when Brighton’s comeback was curbed by an offside call.
There are long held fan beliefs of bias against Arsenal amongst officials. ‘Same old Arsenal, always cheating’ still rings around away grounds to match the idea of Arsenal being a technical but physically soft side.
Arsenal’s current attacking performances have been supreme enough to overcome questionable refereeing, opponents’ rotational fouling and conceding rather ugly goals. It’s been a long time coming, but justice may finally be served in red.
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