AD-Free Episode 552 - PGMOL In The Mud

There is 100% a correlation between Arsenal fouls and how quickly cards are awarded. We should be looking at the foul to card ratio. For that I am 100% certain we are top of the table. Also we should have stats on fouls and positioning of players. If an Arsenal player makes a foul to stop a transition it is almost guaranteed yellow whereas say a Burnley player the percentage would be a lot lower. We need this is in statistics.

I have a question for Clive and the rest of the team. In December when we were scoring goals for fun you could see the forwards changing roles, swapping positions mid game creating overload. Saka to the left to create a goal Martinelli to the right etc Jan came and it’s like the players are glued to the structure. Do we miss this element of chaos to help create chances? Why would we stop?

There can be unconscious bias without it being a deliberate conspiracy, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist or doesn't need addressing (external to Arsenal). Bit unfair of Paul I think to reduce it to a slightly mocking "cabal of lizard men". No one is saying that to my knowledge.

For the love of sweet Jesus! No more Laca! 😱😉

It's been said before, but I feel it needs to be said again. I really love Clive. -end of transmission-

I like to think the throw in procedure is part of our intention to control every part of the game, and rhythm is the next phase. Chaotic games don't suit us. It gets us disorganised, red cards and some of our players can't handle high intensity. Dont know if it's by design but those throw ins, apart from the attacking advantages, are helping to calm everything down and organise our heads and hearts. Generally just like we are looking at those aspects. Finally playing a modern game.

Really the forward line is becoming seriously shot shy. Martenelli is a shot monster and from player for the month Dec to a completely unproductive Jan in terms of output and shots is shocking. Not sure what's going on there. Laca is a mystery , how can any striker be so shot shy..mind you when he came in his swivel and shot was deceptive and hlgave us goals in the box. Nowaday his SOP is get surrounded by players and try to win a free kick. He neither passes to anyone in front of him or swivels and take a shot. Against wolves he was in a position to swivel and shot couple of time and he preferred to be surrounded by defender and fell over the ball. Refs have started to see this. I really think it's comes down to coaching.

That’s gonna be one for Scott because I don’t have an easily accessible database of that info

Interesting analysis of the red cards for us, can you do one for red cards given against us over the same period of time?

So do we need to appoint a Shithousery Coach?

Gonna have to say it. I really don’t think it’s pronounced Gabriel mag-alley-eyes. I think it’s pronounced Gabriel mag-al-eyesh. Pedantic I know, but has to be mentioned for our great centre half

Agree on all three points. I think the issue is that players base their decisions on the pitch on what they believe to be the standards and expectations of refereeing. This is something that’s never given and so Martinelli has no ability to asses the danger of being sent off

Several ideas to consider when analyzing the red card decision: 1, if Martinelli only receives a booking and a talking to, but stays on the pitch, does anybody complain? Is there a controversy? I think the most you get is the commentary team saying, "I think the player's got away with one there. He'll need to be on his best behavior from here on out or he'll be off." 2, have you ever seen a player disrupt a free kick enough to warrant a booking, but yet advantage was played and then the player booked? 3, I actually think Martinelli was surprised the play continued. It's clear he feels he's fouled, it's not called, and tries to disrupt the throw and play isn't stopped so he feels obligated to go back and stop it. Martinelli might have been stupid in that situation, but so was Michael Oliver. The difference is, there's no punishment for Michael Oliver being stupid.

Outlaw

It would be a herculean task to go through, but I'd be very interested to see red card offenses not given against the opposition. I feel we are incredibly harshly officiated, but other teams gets away the same or worse too often. The media focuses on what we do but overlook instances when it happens against us. The bias may be from my end but there are too many instances over the years not feel we are hard done by.

My Mrs loves the way Elliott sez "Saka" 😂

always driving the kids around and now my oldest hums along too

😂 love it

I always hum along to the theme tune now…. Can’t help it. My wife looked at me and said “you’re listening to the Arsenal yank man again aren’t you?” Yes I am.

David Harman