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Emmanuel Eboue on the Liverpool penalty decision

Written by Renzo on April 23, 2011 – 17:20

Arsenal Interactive - Player RatingsEmmanuel Eboue

Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue explained he has no regrets over the penalty episode with which Liverpool won a point at the Emirates last week.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Ivory Coast International started by explaining how important it was to play and score against Blackpool away from home adding that it is always important to acknowledge the travelling fans who follow the team in every part of the country.

Asked about the challenge on Lucas, the right-back said it was never a penalty as his job was to make sure not to allow the Liverpool player to take the ball but he stopped, went down and the referee decided to point to the spot.

On the two games against Blackpool and Liverpool, the 27-year old said:

The Blackpool game was very, very special for me. It’s very difficult to explain why [I threw my shirt and kissed the badge at the end of the game], I don’t like to talk about that because I know why I did it.

It’s not because I want the fans to like me more, no, it’s not about that. I like to do that, I know why and I want to keep it for myself. But it’s not something bad or negative, I will always think positive, I love people so I never ever think something bad about people.

The fans look for me, it’s very important to see the fans. It doesn’t matter the result, if you draw, lose or win, it’s very important to be close to the fans because when we play away they leave their place and come far to see us, so it’s very important for us to go [at them] every time at the end of the game.

[The Liverpool game?] I’m very, very strong in my mind but as I said football is like this, when it’s good everyone is with you but when it’s bad everyone will try to be away to you but it’s life, you can’t change it because life is like this.

But as I said, I know inside that I played well. I don’t like to speak about myself but I know that penalty was not a penalty. If it was a penalty I will say sorry to my friends but I know it wasn’t a penalty. I cannot do anything, I didn’t want him to take the ball in a one against one but he stopped, stopped to run and I couldn’t jump.

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  • PTangYangKipperBang says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:30

    Dear oh dear

    Reply to this comment »
  • brenthedon11 says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:33

    be serious eboue that was the most blatant penalty iv ever seen if you try and run thru players ur gonna concede penaltys. u should be apolgising to ur team mates and fans not trying to justify a silly tackle. i can hold my breath longer than we can hold a lead until that is addressed we wont win a thing

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 18:48

      Anyone who knows anything can see what lucas did there. Both players were running for the ball (eboue couldn’t just leave him to turn and shoot/run at him), but lucas slowed down and fell to the ground. He was already halfway down before eboue even touched him and in fact it should have been a freekick to arsenal for the dive and because lucas obstructed eboue without trying to play the ball.
      That situation is a defender’s nightmare because it’s very difficult to avoid when people purposefully slow down in front of you, and referees should be wise to it. Unfortunately you got the feeling this ref wanted to even things out and give liverpool every chance to equalise.
      Up until we scored our pen, I wouldn’t have begrudged liverpool a point because they defended very well with some young players, and had to cope with a few injuries in that game, but the way it turned out leaves a bad taste.
      Arsenal aren’t perfect, and there have been times when players have let the side down, but this wasn’t one of them. It was another ridiculous decision against us.

      Reply to this comment »
      • brenthedon11 says:
        April 23, 2011 at 18:57

        point taken although i agree it was soft i think it was good forward play plain and simple if it was up other end we would of been screaming for a pen

        Reply to this comment »
        • lauritz says:
          April 24, 2011 at 2:35

          no chance in hell we would have gotten it! it would have been “eduardo-gate” all over.

          btw, look at “player of the year” and his diving @real madrid, and the rest of the yid crew against us, no one mention it! f%¤king disgrace, they were all over the ground in both matches…. why the h%#l did’nt modric get at least one yellow for serial diving?

          Reply to this comment »
        • tonyss says:
          April 24, 2011 at 15:36

          That’s a bit of an about turn after your previous comment. I believe it was very soft and Eboue was a bit naive and should not have given Lucas the opportunity to “go down”.
          I’ve seen our players and opponents not get penalties for far worse than that this season and wish that the officials would show more consistency!

          Reply to this comment »
      • Dave says:
        April 24, 2011 at 1:21

        It’s funny cause if anyone knows about diving and conning the ref a penalty, it’s Eboue.

        Reply to this comment »
        • Kofi says:
          April 24, 2011 at 2:20

          Interesting how people lash out at arsenal players even when it is obvious that refs are to blame.
          The Extra Time was 8mins
          Arsenal Score in the 8min
          Liverpool had a free kick in the 9min
          Score Pen in 10min
          see the supposed foul here
          Video “Even Super Manu cannot win with officiating like this”

          Reply to this comment »
          • Dave says:
            April 24, 2011 at 2:41

            Interesting how some people wears their rose-tinted glasses, when watching a mediocre players like Eboue making mistakse season after season and refuse to blame them. What about the Szczęsny’s poor clearance, Koscielny also to blame with his poor clearance, Song giving away the free kick and finally Eboue charging the back of Lucas give away the penalty. If our defense weren’t such headless chooks when defending leads, maybe we would have won that game.Of course, it doesn’t help that our attack were so toothless on that day. The Liverpool player may have made a meal of it, but as I mentioned before if anyone knows about conning the ref, it’s Eboue. I was stupid of him to run up to Lucas’ back, especially when he was going away from the goal. If it was the other way round where Lucas fouled Eboue, you’ll probably think it was a legit penalty. As for Manu cannot win with officiating like this, I admit refs do play a little part, but they get breaks like we do. Even the most harden AKB, got to admit that a good defense and taking the whole three points, even when playing ugly are the main reasons why Manu is on top., not because of this made up conspiracy that the refs are against us.

            Reply to this comment »
            • Hornsey Bots says:
              April 24, 2011 at 14:49

              What’s a defense??????

              Reply to this comment »
              • Chris says:
                April 24, 2011 at 15:26

                Comments under different names are not allowed.

                Reply to this comment »
                • Dave says:
                  April 25, 2011 at 3:21

                  Is that Kofi who responded to me but used a different name, Chris? If so, shows how he got no arguments to my own.

                  Reply to this comment »
              • tonyss says:
                April 24, 2011 at 15:39

                I think, if I remember rightly from the George Graham era, it’s the collective name for the back 5!! :o )

                Reply to this comment »
                • Dave says:
                  April 25, 2011 at 3:11

                  LOL. Good one.

                  @Hornsey Bots: It’s definitely something Wenger hasn’t been addressing for long time.

                  Reply to this comment »
  • Ash says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:38

    Its interesting to see that he takes no accountability for conceding the penalty. I also don’t believe he had a particularly good game either defensively speaking, with only 2 out of 7 tackles successful, and his only attempted clearance resulting in said penalty.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Kofi says:
      April 24, 2011 at 2:23

      Funny. Who then silenced Suarez. How often did Suarez beat him.

      Reply to this comment »
  • kelly says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:47

    ebuoe is everything thats wrong with arsenal.can’t even afford an apology 4 the fans who pay the most expensive ticket in the world of football.makes suarez sound like an angel in ghana.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Gooner ted says:
      April 23, 2011 at 17:50

      Exactly Kelly Eboue sums up everything that is wrong with the modern day Arsenal.Nothing more than a glorified cheerleader.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Kofi says:
        April 24, 2011 at 2:27

        Suarez hardly went round Eboue so what are you saying. Did you watch the match. What could he have done if arsenal fans attack their own when the ref gets wrong officiating.
        Please see the foul again since i think you did not watch the match
        http://www.blip.tv/file/5035239

        Reply to this comment »
  • Gooner ted says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:48

    Eboue ” I just hope the Arsenal fans will come and see me when i am in the circus next year”

    Reply to this comment »
  • BogiJJ says:
    April 23, 2011 at 17:57

    To those who don’t believe Eboue, I would suggest you have a better look at the penalty incident again. That was NOT a penalty! Watch carefully how Lucas intentionally runs infront of Eboue, sticks back a leg and inevitably makes contact with him.

    It’s equivalent to a car overtaking another car on the road and then suddenly breaking hard right infront of it! If anything it should have been a freekick to Eboue!

    Reply to this comment »
    • Brokengooner says:
      April 23, 2011 at 18:20

      Thank God someone else noticed it! Eboue was stupid no doubt but that was never a penalty! The guy just fell down but unfortunately Eboue ran into him on his way down!

      Reply to this comment »
      • BogiJJ says:
        April 23, 2011 at 18:35

        Well, I’m not so sure what Eboue actually could have done. He seemed to try his best to avoid any sort of contact with Lucas. I think people are being horribly unfair to him as far as this incident is concerned.

        Nevermind that he is young and inexperienced, but what Szczesny did to concede that penalty against Spurs was, in my opinion, far worse. As good a game as he had, that was a stupid thing to do.

        Reply to this comment »
        • kelly says:
          April 23, 2011 at 19:09

          did you just say ebuoe is young and inexperienced? well let me remind you that all the world player of the year winners over the last five years have been 25yrs old or below eboue is 27!

          Reply to this comment »
          • Davi says:
            April 23, 2011 at 19:15

            He was referring to szczesny there

            Reply to this comment »
        • tonyss says:
          April 24, 2011 at 15:44

          99 keepers out of 100 would have made the same spur of the moment decision. The problem lay in the fact that our defenders could not cope with Lennon from the moment he came on and Szceszney was continually left exposed by rank, poor defending!!

          Reply to this comment »
  • Danish Gooner says:
    April 23, 2011 at 18:05

    Everyone is in denial at Arsenal from the board,to the manger to numbnut Eboue,they see no evil and hear no evil,next season will be even worse if some of them fail to own up.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Gilberto says:
    April 23, 2011 at 18:31

    I was at football training with my team and me and my mate was fighting for the ball, he slipped and then i went to take the ball. He started to hold me down so i couldnt take the ball.

    Another player on their team took the ball and i was like wtf.

    Every one was like why was you holding him down, play on!! I was like i was never holding him down!!
    My mate was just laughing at me till this day.

    People miss the bullshit, I see it wasnt Eboue’s fault but Lucas acted so well.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 19:18

      You’re right, but the referee should have been wiser to it. It was so blatant, especially from where the ref was stood. Something about his demeanour really made me think he was trying to even things up that game. He could have blown the final whistle long before liverpool got that freekick. Kuyt booted it at the goal after our penalty because he thought there was no time!

      Reply to this comment »
  • Charlie says:
    April 23, 2011 at 18:34

    Everton had two penalty appeals at Old Trafford today that were much clearer penalties than the questionable one by Eboue but that has become acceptable. No opposing team ever gets penalties at Old Trafford. The first, less blatant, one was Johnny Evans wrestling the Everton player to the ground while the ball rolled off a few yards away. I missed the second but all the commentary says it was more blatant. I know making excuses is for losers and Arsenal should still have more points than they do but these things need to be noticed.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 18:58

      That’s the story of the season. I know Utd have avoided at least 10 clear red cards this year, and the suspensions that should have come with them. We have had nothing like that kind of helping hand.
      It played a part in us going out of the FA cup – rooney shouldn’t have been playing having elbowed someone in the head right in front of the ref 3 games prior. And during that game scholes should really have earned himself a 3 match ban for a tackle on one of our players.
      If this were a level playing field we would be several points better off, and they would be about 10 points worse off. We haven’t been perfect, but we have been the best side this year by miles. Unfortunately, despite the old saying, it DOESN’T even itself out over 38 games. Utd were destined to win the title this season, it was written in the (daily) stars.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Kofi says:
        April 24, 2011 at 2:33

        It is interesting if anyone has noticed that refs make mistakes in Arsenal games when they are closing in on Manu. There hardly were such mistakes when Arsenal were not considered a threat

        Reply to this comment »
    • TheIceManCometh says:
      April 23, 2011 at 19:30

      I was watching the game in disbelief of Peter Walton’s performance for United; how he allowed Evans to wrestle down Beckford without a penalty was bad enough, but then he allows Rio Ferdinand to hold and push down Anichebe (who was clear on goal). Two clear penalty decisions. When compared to Eboue, or even Clichy’s penalty when the ball inadvertently hit his hand when Arsenal played at United, what Walton did was criminal; stealing points from Everton. But hey, Rooney is world class, they have mental strength, Fergie is a master tactician, blah, blah, blah. At the end of the day, the man with the whistle has been a United mvp.

      Reply to this comment »
  • skwam says:
    April 23, 2011 at 18:43

    before I even heard his explanation, what I had seen in Eboue were defensive insicts that were cleverly capitalised on by the opposition player. Eboue turned to ensure the ball wasnt loose to be attacked but he was so very close to the Liverpool player that stood in front of him and the ref decided it was Eboue that fouled the Liverpool player. However, our season was decided by things MUCH BIGGER than Eboue. It was determined by ARSENAL EXECUTIVE decisions. Eboue be he a good or bad player, his presence is up to Wenger going up the boardroom. Losing to West Bwom wasnt up to Eboue. Having players that cant hold onto a 2 nil lead at home or a 4 nil lead at Newcastle is far bigger than Eboue penalty mistake. NOT SCORING while having 60% possession playing a second stream Man U side ISNT Eboue. Losing to Birmingham in the one opportunity we had to win a tropht isnt about EBOUE.ITS about the board and Wenger who manage the club, decide who to keep, develop sell etc. Its about the mental prep Arsenal players receive or do not. Eboue isnt significant enough in Arsenal to be called a PAWN. DIRECT YOUR FURY AND ATTENTION TO THOSE THAT MATTER, and if you think getting rid of Eboue solves your problems, you cant be further from REALITY….ARSENAL NEEDS TO CHANGE. ARSENAL NEEDS TO LOOK AT ARSENAL

    Reply to this comment »
    • Kofi says:
      April 24, 2011 at 2:38

      Cant you realise arsenal never get beaten by more two goal margin “except fa cup manu” but strange officiating allows teams to score 3 4 goals when arsenal are leading and then Bris-hit media comes up with great come back

      Reply to this comment »
  • brenthedon11 says:
    April 23, 2011 at 18:53

    it doesnt matter if lucas stopped that in my opinion is good play if an arsenal player had done the same u would of been screaming for a pen. i dont want to win at any cost tho and that was a pen plain and simple those who think it wasnt r deluded

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 19:03

      No, if we had got a pen like that, I would have taken it, but would also have been mildly embarrassed because it’s not a penalty. Lucas CONNED the referee. Just because we would accept it the other way doesn’t make it right. And I certainly wouldn’t be complaining if one of our players did the same as lucas and the ref judged it not a penalty to us.
      In any case, would you now say at least that it wasn’t so much eboue’s fault as lucas’/the ref’s?

      Reply to this comment »
      • brenthedon11 says:
        April 23, 2011 at 19:18

        no i dont, i think it was eboues fault. but a season is not judged on one decision we really should be 6 points clear not 6 points behind we have tactically poor all season

        Reply to this comment »
        • Davi says:
          April 23, 2011 at 19:23

          I agree there have been mistakes, particularly with tactics, but our season has also been littered with refereeing mistakes or tricks from our opponents, like with the this incident. At the same time Utd have been getting away with card after card, penalty after penalty. It just doesn’t even itself out. In my mind, we won the title in 2008, because we were the best side by far, and this is a similar thing. The difference is I only feel we have been the best side this season, but overall we aren’t a great side – the 2008 team, particularly if you include eduardo, *could* have been a truly great side.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Dave says:
            April 24, 2011 at 1:27

            Yes, the refs the main reason why we are trophyless this season again is not because our poor defending, one-dimensional tactics, the many mediocre players that Wenger keeps playing and how Wenger doesn’t seems to see his mistakes because like the AKBs he thinks in infallible.

            Reply to this comment »
            • Kofi says:
              April 24, 2011 at 2:45

              Mediocre ? better defensively than until the Spurs game. Manu , Liverpool, Spurs, etc only Chelsea and City better
              http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/premier-league/2010-2011/league-tables/best-defence.html even without i choice defenders

              Reply to this comment »
              • Dave says:
                April 25, 2011 at 3:18

                Yeah, you already shown that to me, Kofi and I already response to it earlier. You’re deluded if you think that being slightly better than spuds and Liverpool defensively means that we have a good defensive record. Anyway, if you read it right because Manu is above us on that table. Btw, watched the Bolton where we conceded on set-pieces yet again, something Wenger hasn’t address for years because not acquiring players that can deal with them and drill on how to defend on those set-pieces. After that game, Fulham is equal with us on goals against.

                Reply to this comment »
            • brenthedon11 says:
              April 24, 2011 at 9:36

              glad somebody sees my point, even if it wasnt a pen it dont make up for the way we have played this year!! totally 1 dimensional i mean look at arshavin for example everytime he gets the ball now he passes it almost straight away, what happened to the player we signed who got the ball was as greedy as hell but scored goals wenger and his tactics have totally nulified his ability. another 1 is walcott why have him in the yeam if u dont play to his strengths??? surely im not the only to think hes the fastest player in prem but we play ball to his feet instead of infront of him…dont figure

              Reply to this comment »
              • Albert Wilson says:
                April 24, 2011 at 15:22

                You are a complete Dixon like Judas (Ebouie knew it was a penalty)- what in hell is wrong with you – oh lets keep it civil then i can wind up you Arsenal fans – you are Man U to the core – eff off to your Manc blogs – ignore all issues of time – it was blantantly not a penalty. You cannot give away a penalty with your left nipple especially if it was the forward that bumped into that left nipple.

                Reply to this comment »
  • Tony Monti says:
    April 23, 2011 at 19:14

    Arsenal fc didn’t concede the title to man utd but to some premiership referees. They are the worst in the whole of europe. They are so biased.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Tony Monti says:
    April 23, 2011 at 19:17

    Arsenal fc didn’t concede the title to man utd but to some premiership referees. They are so biased.

    Reply to this comment »
    • frenchie says:
      April 24, 2011 at 0:34

      perhaps you have not been watching this season. bottled it…

      Reply to this comment »
      • Kofi says:
        April 24, 2011 at 2:49

        Maybe you have not been watching. It has become way tooo obvious. Fergie was not amused with red until the penalty was awarded.
        Did you see that? Why did he come watch that match anyway.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Jekyll says:
    April 23, 2011 at 19:29

    Yes Lucas played for it but if Eboue had any defensive nous he’d know the player would be looking for it in that scenario and not give him the possibility. But they don’t do defence at Arsenal. Eboue doesn’t believe himself accountable and Wenger won’t hold him accountable so nothing will be learnt from the experience, as with so many others.

    Wenger has already delivered the message that the players have ‘over-achieved’ this season and that they ‘deserve’ more. There is no hope of change or improvement if you don’t see it’s needed. Blaming refereeing decision for our woes will simply mean this season is repeated once again, as it has been the last few.

    Reply to this comment »
  • yozza says:
    April 23, 2011 at 19:37

    Davi…as deluded as our manager….get a grip man,referees didn’t decide NOT to buy any players in January,referees didn’t buy squillaci,Denilson,Bendtner,referees didn’t make Almunia first choice keeper

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 20:10

      yozza – What I’m saying is that our standards have to be several levels higher than Utd because of these ridiculous decisions that consistently net for Utd and against us.
      If you’d cared to notice, squillaci has actually been quality in his last two appearances for the club. He’s a good player, but nobody was willing to give him the time to adapt to this new club/league, and his biggest problem early on seemed to be that he couldn’t gel with whoever was playing next to him.
      I’ve said over and over that arsenal are not perfect, and I’ve said that we do not have a great side, HOWEVER we do not have to be a great side. In a league that is officiated fairly, we only have to be the best side, and this season we have been that. People like you just seem to look at the outcomes and ignore everything that goes on before the outcome, ie the ridiculous decisions that have cost us a lot of points, and gained plenty for our main rivals. Yes the players/tactics/manager can be better, but why do we have to be 10 times better than everyone else to get what we deserve!?

      Reply to this comment »
      • Dave says:
        April 24, 2011 at 1:34

        What about the penalty decisions that came our way like the Chamakh easily going down to earn a penalty with Birmingham game, Koscielny not being punished hacking a player down in the West Brom game and the goal that was incorrectly disallowed for offside when we played Barcelona on the 1st leg and others I couldn’t bother to look up? You can ramble all you like about penalty decisions being the main factor in our disappointing season but you can see we also got the benefits because of refs dodgy decisions.

        Reply to this comment »
        • Davi says:
          April 24, 2011 at 21:16

          I’m not denying that we get lucky at times as well, but if you try to weigh it up the wrong decisions that go against us FAR outweigh the ones that go for us. Conversely the ones that go Utds way FAR outweight the ones that go against them – and yet the still moan about every little thing far more than our manager or players do.

          Do you watch these games? Have you not seen the number of times our players are clearly fouled, and the referee gives nothing? In the infamous newcastle game, barton came through the back of arshavin with his knees, which must be a booking – but not even a freekick was given! Then he flew in on diaby, which was a potential leg-breaker, and we all know what happened after that. Diaby was correctly sent off, but barton didnt even get booked for at least 2 very bad challenges, and then to top it, nolan does the same thing as diaby and just gets a booking.

          Even today walcott was denied a clear penalty while bolton got a soft one, and yesterday ferdinand was allowed to bundle players over in the box. To be honest, I wouldn’t call the ferdinand one a *clear* penalty, but they’re very often given, and it would have been a much more legitimate penalty than the eboue one because at least he actually did something to anichebe. Imagine if eboue had done something like what ferdinand did to the everton striker – he’d have been crucified!
          It’s happening week-after-week, but all we can do is blame our players.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Dave says:
            April 25, 2011 at 3:38

            I will asked if you also watch our matches? Like the Bolton match and many more like it, our defense continue to choke. If count the many times our defense let us down and the many times we blew away the lead, we would have been on top of the league and we wouldn’t have cared with what’s happening with Manu and this so called referee conspiracy against us.

            Btw that Newcastle match, Barton made a similar challenge to Arshavin but the Russian got up and got on with the game. As much as Barton deserves it, just being a c**k that he is, Diaby let the team down getting himself sent off not just what he did to Barton but also shoving the other Newcastle player. Diaby is lucky to be a team like Arsenal, especially with the wages he earns for being a bench warmer most of time and injury prone player.

            Reply to this comment »
      • DeeTee says:
        April 24, 2011 at 1:47

        I cannot agree with you any less. peoplw should look at the outcome holistically and say it the way it is. I do not like making excuses for failure but it’s obvious the refrees are acting a script. What is good for the geese is good for the gander. Why will a team get away with some decisions while the other don’t. If it was a one off thing it is understandable but having it consistently shows the drama will always have the the referees as the MVP for EPL board to hand there winners the trophy.
        Arsenal need to improve and have some nerves but they are better than whoever wins the title this season if they lose it

        Reply to this comment »
        • Kofi says:
          April 24, 2011 at 2:56

          so if that is the case how come Manu hardly get these ruling against them.
          Rio kicks Sagna and tears his shirt

          Rooney elbows

          Nani dives

          Rio

          Vidic

          How on earth can a player get 10 cards a season
          2 in the premiership
          6 Champions league
          4 International

          Rio Ferdinand
          Check the stats

          Reply to this comment »
        • Davi says:
          April 24, 2011 at 21:31

          I don’t think we really disagree at all!
          I’m saying people just seem to look at the results, or the league table after 30 games, and feel as though they can judge what went on that season purely by the results. I’m reacting to this ridiculous idea that luck, which also includes referee decisions apparently, evens itself out over the 38 games of the season. If you watch the games, it becomes clear that it just doesn’t even itself out, and to be honest, I don’t think it ever has.
          Even the highlights they show on tv don’t tell you everything. The number of times the BBC’s motd have covered up a blatant penalty or red card that Utd got away with is really alarming.

          The sides that wenger built in the past were just so much better than everyone else, they could cope with this uphill struggle. I’m not sayiing they never got lucky but they really were on another plane to everyone including Utd. The infamous game where everyone crowded van nistelroy is a prime example. I still can’t believe the ref sent of vieira for flicking his leg in ruud’s direction, even though he was nowhere near him, and then the penalty at the end was given for absolutely nothing. It was absurd.
          I remember solskjaer getting campbell sent off for a non-existent elbow, and of course the game which ended our unbeaten run, where ferdinand took ljungberg out on the halfway line, when he was through on goal (nothing given), and rooney dived for the killer penalty. Even this year ferdinand kicked sagna(?) in the chest, nothing again, and the ref gave them a penalty after nani kicked the ball at a fallen players hand. They have always been cheats and have always been helped along their way.

          Reply to this comment »
  • ozed says:
    April 23, 2011 at 20:26

    @yozza

    Dude if everything was about buying players Man city, liverpool and spurs would be at the top of the league. The current squad could easily have won this season with a little more luck and spirit.

    Reply to this comment »
    • yozza says:
      April 24, 2011 at 10:14

      yes Ozed…interesting word in there….”could” instead of “did”…notice the difference?Wenger uses it a lot as well!!

      Reply to this comment »
  • jason says:
    April 23, 2011 at 21:00

    Just watched it on youtube and no i dont think its a penalty.

    Reply to this comment »
  • island says:
    April 23, 2011 at 21:20

    personally i like eboue.i hhink fans are getting on his back to much.and i alsi think whenever he had a chance to play he has been decent ,blackpool game for instant,and i am pretty sure he is not at fault for the penalty against the lpool,they ref should be a manc fan

    Reply to this comment »
  • cesc says:
    April 23, 2011 at 21:49

    arsenals problem is we put too much faith in average players. the fans have been saying get rid of eboue for years. i have my doubts whether he is actually premiership material. i don’t think he would get in most premiership teams. he makes too many mistakes.

    diaby, denilson, almunia, squillachi, fabianski, vela,have all had a number of seasons to prove themselves and have failed badly. how many years does arsene need to see a player is cr*p.

    look at how long we had to put up with silvestere & senderos. what a pair of jokes those 2 where. everyone could see except for wenger and rice who have becaome the laurel & hardy of the premiership

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 23, 2011 at 21:58

      “diaby, denilson, almunia, squillachi, fabianski, vela,have all had a number of seasons to prove themselves and have failed badly.”

      What are you talking about!?

      Diaby has never played in his most natural position for more than 5 minutes but is clearly improving as a defensive/central midfielder
      Squillaci has been here less than one season and his most recent performances indicated he is getting to grips with playing here.
      Fabianski was awful last season but largely very good this season
      And vela has been limited to carling cup games (where he’s been incredible) and 10 minute cameos last season, where he did well at times.

      Senderos was actually a very good defender who helped get us to the CL final, and his inclusion in the 1st team often coincided with long runs where few were goals conceded. Basically he had a problem dealing with drogba (which incidentally didn’t end when senderos left!), and torres once. It’s people like you who ruined what was a promising career!

      Reply to this comment »
      • NO1GOONER says:
        April 23, 2011 at 22:09

        Dude, you are crazy if you really believe that.

        Diaby is never played out of position, Arsene plays him center mid every game, thats hes best position.

        Squillaci is not very good, he will not get any better than he is now.

        Flapi is poor poor poor

        I agree with you on Vela, I could see him going to spain and doing a Diego Forlan

        And Senderos, SERDEROS, I have a list of Arsenal players who I always wanted to get the legs broke, Senderos was top of that list with a picture of hes face next to hes name with darts dangling from hes head, the man was awful, we carried him to the cl final, wenger knows a crap deffender when he see’s one

        Reply to this comment »
        • Davi says:
          April 23, 2011 at 22:21

          Diaby is an attacking midfielder, he’s learning to do a defensive job. He didn’t appear to want to do it when he first came, but he’s putting in a shift now.

          On squillaci, fabianski and senderos, you’re just ignoring what is going on.
          What was so bad about fabianski this season? Squillaci has been excellent recently. And how the hell can a team carry a centre back to the final of the CL?! We didn’t concede a goal for ages – that’s the main reason we got there! That’s like saying Utd carried evans, or vidic when they didn’t concede in the league for ages a couple of years back. Ridiculous!

          The trouble is, these players get a reputation for a few bad games, and when they start playing well, people just remember the bad stuff, and ignore when they do well – they become easy targets for frustrated fans to vent. Senderos was a perfect example of that. When he first came into the side he got player of the month because we let in so few goals. It happened a few times in his fairly rare runs of 1st team matches, that we would let in fewer goals with him in the side. And he was about 23 when he effectively stopped playing for arsenal! 23 and his only real problem was that he couldn’t deal with drogba, which would affect his confidence in subsequent matches, which must have had something to do with the ridiculous amount of stick he would get. If he gets games, in a couple of years expect him to be a very good defender.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Dave says:
            April 24, 2011 at 2:14

            Diaby improving? That’s a laugh. I see it more like getting worse every season. I don’t expect him to be a great DM and I predict he never will but the way he lazily jogs the pitch when we played Man United at the FA cup (this is not the first instance he did this) was just appalling. Those knucklehead brothers at Man United showed more enthusiasm than Diaby. Even when he plays as an attacking midfielder, he doesn’t even provide that many goals and assists. I worry that if Cesc leaves, Diaby will be the one who replace him in midfield.

            As for Fabianski, just because he played a handful of decent games, though he flapped on a number of occasions but he only was punished on the Newcastle game, I’m still not entirely convinced with him. He’s reserve keeper at best. As for Squillaci, I know you’re a big fan of him but this season showed his lack of pace and way he gets beaten in the air and defending long ball are suppose to be his specialty, shows that he’s a backup CB at best.

            Senderos had more problems than letting in a “few goals”. It’s not just Drgoba, you forgot the CL match against Liverpool, where Torres and Hyypia made mince meat of him. He’s like Diaby, gets worse season after season. His lack of pace and the way he couldn’t pick himself up after making mistake after mistake shows that he lacks mental strength. Maybe Wenger is to blame as well for not giving him some encouragement, as isn’t the manager’s job to get players motivated and coping with mistakes. If he’s so good, how come Milan doesn’t want him and after leaving Arsenal he’s been bouncing around clubs, probably doesn’t help he’s also injury prone.

            Reply to this comment »
            • Joblow says:
              April 24, 2011 at 5:28

              Yeah and if Walcott and Cesc played some defense on Babel (Cesc pulling his shirt, to start off his fall) and not allowing him to pass him we wud not be talking about Senderos here had we win. Yeah he must have been our only defender on that night huh?

              Team responsibility!!

              Reply to this comment »
              • Dave says:
                April 25, 2011 at 3:56

                While others are involved, Senderos got to take most of the blame for his poor performance on that night. He in particular more than anyone.

                Reply to this comment »
            • Joblow says:
              April 24, 2011 at 5:48

              And also remember Senderos was in a Swiss defense that did not give away a goal in normal time in the 2006 World Cup. And when they did score on them it was in extra time and Senderos dislocated his Shoulder prior, also ruling him out of the start of the new season with us buying buying Gallas.

              ARsenal to the world!!

              Reply to this comment »
              • Dave says:
                April 25, 2011 at 3:42

                Shows how Senderos gets worse year after year like Diaby, Denilson, etc. So it was good that we sold him.

                Reply to this comment »
            • Davi says:
              April 24, 2011 at 21:41

              I did actually mention the torres thing. Yes it was one game, and he couldn’t handle torres. He couldn’t handle torres and drogba at 22/23, but which defenders can? United have to continually hack away at drogba to stop him, like when evens broke one of his ribs off the ball – arsenal players don’t get away with stuff like that, and we all saw torres take the piss out of vidic a few times, who btw is a lot older than senderos was. Does it really make senderos a bad player that he couldn’t handle these great strikers!?
              I agree he lacked a bit of mental strength, and htat would effect subsequent games after a mistake, but that also comes with age, and it might have helped if he’d received a bit more support from fans as well.

              On squillaci, I didn’t say I was a big fan of his, but ffs you’ve got to start giving these players a chance. Everyone always goes on about how you need a year to adapt to the PL, but no-one every gives them that time. It’s like the people who say vela hasn’t made the most of his chances at arsenal because he didn’t score 10 goals in his 10 10minute cameo appearances last season.

              Reply to this comment »
              • Dave says:
                April 25, 2011 at 4:34

                Also, forgetting about Benni McCarthy getting past Senderos so easily to send us packing in the FA Cup years ago. I’m sure there’s more but I don’t take the time to remember Senderos’ many subpar performances as he’s a players like many youngsters that come and gone that weren’t good enough to be in the club in the past few years. It’s probably asking a lot for Senderos to handle those strikers, I suppose Wenger is to blame for putting a youngster like that, but I do expect him to get better as years go by but he went the opposite way for Big Phil. So it’s best he left the club. You can blame the fans on his decline, but I blame him and Wenger for not properly coaching him on defending.

                I rather Wenger spend more on a defender that’s ready for the EPL then going for a player playing in an inferior league in comparison to the Premier League so he can save a bit of money. If selling Squillaci will provide us the funds for that player, I’m for it selling him. As for Vela… boy, isn’t Hernandez is a really good striker for Manu and it’s his first season in the Premier League!

                Reply to this comment »
      • Kofi says:
        April 24, 2011 at 3:00

        Well said. If ref made a mistake at oldtraford the fans would mince him but at emirates the player gets minced
        so called fans

        Reply to this comment »
    • Joblow says:
      April 24, 2011 at 5:18

      Wow! i must have been saying the same thing about Theo Walcott and now it seems he finally has made a turn for the better.

      Denilson was brilliant when he started off for arsenal and playing the role pretty well when cesc was injured at the start of the season in 2008or 2009 but since that day when he collapse with nobody near him, he has not looked the same.

      I can so vividly remember how most fans were bigging up Squillaci at the start of the season though i thought Kos was the better player after getting cards when he picked up for Squid ppl were still saying he was the man and boom, emotions come into play.

      Senderos was one of our better defenders only really looking bad when playing alongside Campbell. as both like the left central defensive area Campbell being senior wud get it and it didn’t help, but put him with Djourou (against chelsea) or Kolo and he did brilliant. Drogba scored some fluke shots as well as good goals against him. becuz he was better at dealing with the aerial balls out of all our defenders meant he dealt with drogba more as no other arsenal defender wud be able to keep him as quiet. Cl record and all and i still believe if we played that same defense against Barca that year we wud win.

      Diaby i will not even comment about bcuz he has been in and out so often and we know wat he is capable of.

      Vela not enough opportunities don’t matter wat he does. scores 1 goal in 10 mins, plays the next and scores 2 goals in about the same time then doesn’t get to play again until after nth games. i mean who does that when a player is in obvious form.

      Fabianski i really can say is another walcott but started off wayyyyyyyyy worse. Still believe Mannone shud be given a chance as he has done no worse and in my view even better than our current keepers.

      Bentner was saving our bacon at the end of last season and has not really gotten a run of games with the first IX to get into full flow. and i will stop there as we know his touch is not the best but he does score goals ( more prolific and yes brings more to arsenal than Chamakh)

      Same way flamini, song were no good initially according to some fans but wish they were in the team now and when they r injured.

      Thanks! Gunners for life as i support the team and not individuals!

      Reply to this comment »
      • Joblow says:
        April 24, 2011 at 5:38

        And also remember Senderos was in a Swiss defense that did not give away a goal in normal time in the 2006 World Cup. And when they did score on them it was in extra time and Senderos dislocated his Shoulder prior, also ruling him out of the start of the new season with us buying buying Gallas.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Arsenal Norway says:
    April 23, 2011 at 23:36

    Eboue is right, it was not a penalty. If you look at the situation from a side angel you can clearly see lucas running into eboue, stops and dives after that. I love eboue, he is a good football player but an even better person! Eboue is MR.ARSENAL! He is a man that keep the spirit up and the players together!! Wish you all luck for the future!

    Reply to this comment »
  • eve says:
    April 24, 2011 at 0:42

    eboue was right it was’nt a pen, but what does it matter now, one day soon i hope referees will actually get decisions right.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Dave says:
    April 24, 2011 at 2:51

    Looks like the Arsene Knows Best brigade is turning to referee conspiracy as the main reason for yet another disappointing season for Arsenal. Boy, they will blame anyone but Wenger and the many mediocre players in team. Next, they are probably going to blame Gunnersaurus.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Indo Gunner says:
    April 24, 2011 at 9:16

    Prof, common wake up!!
    1. None of young arsenal academy took part in the invincible team. I ignore fabregas since he was eternal substitute at that time!!

    2. Arsenal can’t play with just 1 striker. Bring Chamakh to accompany RVP behind him. Chamakh has an excellent dribbling skill, and header as well.

    3. Fabregas is moderate, Wilshire is excellent. But they just can only pass the ball!! Arsenal will not be a champion when u still depend on them. During the game, i am not sure what are their role in the game, whether defend or offense.. since they do not have the capability for both of that!!. But my credit to Jack!! Not Fabregas.

    4. Buy Nigel de Jong to play with Song as central midfield. (I remember the solid duo between Vieira & Gilberto at that time). Nasri n the left then Arshavin in the right, will be perfect supports for RVP and Chamakh. They will be just calm in breaking the opponent defense if they save solid central midfielder behind them. Just analyze what we have now!!

    5. Clichy and Sagna is terrible. They can not really clear the ball properly. Eboue is better in the right than Sagna. For the left flank, replace Clichy with Djorou, while Vermaleen & Koscielny paly in the cetral defender. Against Spurs, 2 goals came from Clichy mistakes & VDV penalty is obviously Sagna’s mistake!

    6. Put the captain ban to Vermaleen.

    FIXED!!!

    Reply to this comment »
    • Davi says:
      April 24, 2011 at 21:49

      I think just a straight 4-4-2 with wilshere and nasri out wide would do the trick. Remember when sagna and clichy were voted the best 2 fullbacks in the league? There was nothing wrong with them then! The reason for that was that they had better protection from rosicky and hleb (and flamini) than they get in our current system. It’s clear that the system are using now puts the defence under a lot more pressure, particularly on the counter.
      I would play wilshere left, nasri right, with song and cesc in the middle.
      Then bendtner or rvp could play up front with theo or vela and we would see how good these young players really are. Imo both theo and vela would be devastating playing up front with bendtner or nasri supplying them.
      I would also consider playing fabregas behind one of our pacey strikers at times, and pairing song with diaby, wilshere or another more defensive CM

      Reply to this comment »
      • Dave says:
        April 25, 2011 at 4:36

        You’re talking about Wenger here, the most stubborn man in football. He won’t change back to 4-4-2 because it’s admitting that he made a mistake changing the formation in the first place.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Apandi says:
    April 25, 2011 at 8:45

    Its not a dive by Lucas nor a bad tackle by Eboue. But it was an inteligents game by a good player(s). Lucas knows the ball still in the penalty box and Eboue is closing him. He sealed the ball then Eboue knocked him down by no way that Eboue could touch the ball. The ref had no choice but to point to the spot. It only shows how good Lucas is while Eboue should blame himself for running straight behind him at a position that Lucas cannot shoot to the goal. If Eboue had let Lucas play the ball one or two touches, may be the ref will blow his whistle and the game is over. Arsenal have win that game.

    Reply to this comment »
  • lol says:
    April 26, 2011 at 3:41

    the diver got dived

    Reply to this comment »
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