For a while at the Etihad last night it looked like the intermittent white lines signalling the technical areas were, to quote the Pirates of the Caribbean, more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules.
Fourth official Rob Jones probably cursed his luck when he was handed this Friday night gig involving Manchester City and Arsenal. Trying to control Mikel Arteta is a task most of his colleagues are having a difficult time with at the moment.
Jones and Arteta were certainly close acquaintances. Arteta never once made use of his seat, instead spending the entire game on his feet, watching intently, hopping from one foot to the other and often getting animated, with his own team and the officials.
