- Sep 2, 2003
- 5,850
- 8,794
Earlier today I watched most of the second half of Arsenal v Norwich.
When I started watching Norwich had just scored to take a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the game saw the goons huff and puff and have most of the posession while Norwich held their shape and restricted them to one chance of note, when Bunn did well to deflect a shot by Podolski on to the bar. The introduction of Walcott and Podolski added some urgency to the home team but didn't really alter the game. I had the same feeling that I often have when we are behind: for all the goons' effort they wouldn't score and the game would end 1-0.
Then, in the 85th minute, a penalty was awarded. There was a slight tug by Kamara on Giroud's shirt and it was a foul, which Giroud emphasised by falling backwards. The ref had a perfect view of something that happens at every set piece in every game and is rarely called. He ignored it, but as play continued he received word from his assistant that it should be a penalty. So he awarded Arsenal a penalty. The linesman was at least twice as far away from the incident and arguably had a worse angle on it, but the ref chose to ignore his own judgement and to award the spot kick. Bunn almost saved it but 1-1 was the outcome.
After a perfectly good second goal three mintes later - which probably wouldn't have happened if it was still 1-0 - Flappyhandski hoofed the ball out. The Arsenal forward (Giroud, I think) fouled the Norwich defender in the aerial challenge and nodded on to Walcott, who was just offside. The same eagle-eyed linesman who gave the penalty failed to notice either of these two infringements occurring right in front of him. The third Arsenal goal followed.
Were Arsenal lucky? Probably. Or perhaps they just received the little bit of help that they always seem to get during this part of the season.
When I started watching Norwich had just scored to take a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the game saw the goons huff and puff and have most of the posession while Norwich held their shape and restricted them to one chance of note, when Bunn did well to deflect a shot by Podolski on to the bar. The introduction of Walcott and Podolski added some urgency to the home team but didn't really alter the game. I had the same feeling that I often have when we are behind: for all the goons' effort they wouldn't score and the game would end 1-0.
Then, in the 85th minute, a penalty was awarded. There was a slight tug by Kamara on Giroud's shirt and it was a foul, which Giroud emphasised by falling backwards. The ref had a perfect view of something that happens at every set piece in every game and is rarely called. He ignored it, but as play continued he received word from his assistant that it should be a penalty. So he awarded Arsenal a penalty. The linesman was at least twice as far away from the incident and arguably had a worse angle on it, but the ref chose to ignore his own judgement and to award the spot kick. Bunn almost saved it but 1-1 was the outcome.
After a perfectly good second goal three mintes later - which probably wouldn't have happened if it was still 1-0 - Flappyhandski hoofed the ball out. The Arsenal forward (Giroud, I think) fouled the Norwich defender in the aerial challenge and nodded on to Walcott, who was just offside. The same eagle-eyed linesman who gave the penalty failed to notice either of these two infringements occurring right in front of him. The third Arsenal goal followed.
Were Arsenal lucky? Probably. Or perhaps they just received the little bit of help that they always seem to get during this part of the season.