THEY EXPECTED NOTHING AND WE TOOK IT ALL!

The powers that be knew what they were doing when choosing Arsenal to start on aFriday nightfor the second season running away to a team they have struggled to in recent years. 

The Sky crew were salivating as kick off loomed, Carragher choosing what section of the boisterous Palace fans to dance with, the media pencils freshly sharpened with headlines already imprinted into their minds, which would have been working overtime to try and emulate the level of hysteria they produced last year.  

Imagine the disappointment all round when Arsenal turned up, scored a goal after a period of football which justifies our excitement of what this team could achieve this season, and then battled a strong resurgence from a very good Palace side  backed by their amazing fans. 

It’s such a lovely feeling of satisfaction winning the 1st game of the season, and make no mistake, this was a great win. 

I mentioned last time how exciting Saliba looks, and he confirmed to us all why.  To be honest it still has not sunk in that we have a player of his calibre.  

It also meant we had the luxury of sitting back and watching the remaining matches of the weekend with a feeling of inner peace. The highlights obviously being Fulham frustrating Klopp’s Liverpool and producing more moans from him about the state of the dry pitch. Fulham responded brilliantly with a tweet of them watering it and declaring how lush their pitch was.

Then of course was Man Utd’s home defeat to Brighton. Man Utd remind me of where Arsenal were a 2/3 years ago, now if only they had a young visionary manager with fantastic hair and a distinctive Spanish  accent who was given time to sort the mess out and lead them to future glory….. 

Saturday Is almost amongst us, and how can anyone not be excited about attending The Emirates.  It will be rocking!   What a difference to the snarling poisonous atmosphere we experienced a few years ago, where fans were choosing not to attend as it was so unpleasant. Now fans are turning up early to join in the singing on the concourses. Confidence with this defence now is so evident, it gives us such a boost and with the likes of Jesus up front there is no reason why we cannot make it two wins out of two…..but then again, this is football.  And it’s a funny old game!!

REF WATCH

Didn’t take long for my blood vessels to burst about the state of our refereeing in the new season. 44 minutes to be exact.  A Palace attack saw their attacker go down in a dangerous position. My tension is relieved as Anthony Taylor waves play on, the player had dived. No yellow because referees appear to have stopped giving bookings for simulation. As Arsenal push forward as a result Xhaka goes down after being lightly brushed by a defenders arm. Taylor immediately stops play and waves a yellow card at him!! 

If ever there was a clear need for a referee to explain his actions this was one.  I have absolutely no concerns about Xhaka being booked, but why not the previous dive? Why is Xhaka the only person I’ve seen for as long as I can remember to be booked for simulation?  It reminds me of when he was booked last season for a small foul and the referee justified it be pointing at random areas of the pitch at alleged previous fouls - that had not taken place!   There is a definite bias by referees against Xhaka, wether it’s a subconscious one or referees just enjoy having an easy target to display their authority I have no idea. 

I unfortunately won’t be at The Emirates for the Leicester game as I’m away sailing the Med Seas on a cruise. So sing load, and enjoy the game. 

Thanks for reading and speak soon,

Up The Gunners!    

Rob