Why Arsene Wenger’s fair play logic is flawed
Arsenal boss moves the goalposts to defend his team
Tony Pulis yesterday responded to Arsene Wenger’s criticism of Stoke’s aggressiveness by reminding the Frenchman that the only player sent off in the Potters 2-1 win last Saturday was wearing an Arsenal shirt. So in his latest desperate attempt to defend his team, Wenger replied by boasting:
“You can look at the fair play table. Who is top? Arsenal Football Club”
The problem with that claim is that, unless Arsenal have received a fax with updated standings, the last accessible version of the Fair Play Table reflects only the first six games. At that point, the Gunners had picked up just six yellows but in the five games since they have collected twelve yellows and one red.
When you consider that Chelsea, third in the last published standings after being handed eight yellows, have received just five since, there is a strong chance they will top the table when it is next updated.
Of course there is a method to Wenger’s rambling though. If he merely stated the facts, that Arsenal have got dirtier as the season has progressed, they might not receive as much sympathy from whoever referees Saturday’s game with Manchester United.
3 responses so far
Goonoo // November 6, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Is that it? Silly me for thinking there might be something worthwhile to read here?
jef fro // November 6, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Arsenal are top or near top of every fair play league since 2000. Arsenal shouldnt be reduced to having to play in the Premier League lower echelons. Create a world league of teams that play great football and let us all watch that. Stoke and Bolton and Blackburn etc can slug it out in the premier league without us. We want barcelona and porto every week
KG // November 8, 2008 at 3:53 pm
common .. arsenal and referee sympathy : that’s just an oxymoron … at grove today arsenal didn’t get the penalty when vidic pulled down nasri (nearly tore up his shirt in front of the ref) …. lol ref
plz spoiler stick to gossips and don’t try to be a regular news site. Gossips are your forte, stick to it.
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