The focus on Saturday’s early victory saw Arsenal face several lines of narrative regarding their celebrations, top four implications and reaction to tackles and yellow cards of their own. The 1-0 away win at Villa Park was a hard-fought three points but was soured by a continuation of poor officiating from referees.
The officiating of Arsenal’s matches has become an infuriating fiasco for Gunners supporters. Penalties not being given, red cards not brandished to rival players for equal challenges that have seen Arsenal players sent off for similar actions and behaviour profiling of the team.
Granit Xhaka has faced this more than most. The Swiss international has been sent off on numerous occasions, twice this season already. However, the weekend witnessed referee Andrew Madley give Xhaka a yellow card pointing to the reasoning being three challenges accumulating to the sanction.
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The issue here was that Xhaka had not made a foul up until this point. What Madley was suggesting simply was not true.
Awaiting further clarification, Arsenal fans watched Sky Sports’ referee watch show in which former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher stunned onlookers with a perplexing justification.
"It was not just for that, it was one that had been coming", says Dermot Gallagher. “So I think that’s why he gets it. It’s not that he is being picked on.”
Again, the suggestion here is that Xhaka had somehow accumulated enough actions to deserve the yellow. This despite the fact he had yet to make a foul before being sanctioned.
The Arsenal players have shown some resistance to the treatment, evident by how many have surrounded the officials in recent weeks. John McGinn got so wound up he shoved captain Alexandre Lacazette out of the referee’s eyeliner and got a yellow for his troubles.
Lacazette, as captain, is leading the revolt against their perceived mistreatment. Arsenal’s club photographer Stuart MacFarlane tweeted a picture of Gallagher’s assessment of the Xhaka yellow card and Steven Gerrard’s criticism of Bukayo Saka asking for protection. He attached the words, “Lost a bit of respect for these two this weekend.”
As shown in the below image, Lacazette retweeted the tweet from his own account. Clearly in agreement with MacFarlane about how this Arsenal side is being treated.
Lacazette has a long memory, as evidenced by his tweet mimicking Ivan Toney who sent a sly dig Arsenal’s way after Brentford’s opening day victory over the Gunners. The Frenchman got his own back after a comfortable reverse result at the Emirates.
The togetherness of the Arsenal squad is a huge aspect of their success this season. If it is more than just their rivals they need to overcome, the unity in the group gives them a great chance of achieving their goals for the season.
