Liverpool-Arsenal, Day 105: Penalties

This blogging is becoming more and more infrequent isn't it?

A bit like the first time you get herpes, it generally pesters you non-stop for weeks, or even months, and then it kind of subsides into the state of the anticipation of discomfort rather than actual bumps on your balls. Figuratively speaking of course.

We've all probably discussed the match with our work colleagues (well except for me, I live in Valencia you see, so nobody gives a fuck about Arsenal—and the Gooners lost 2-0 to Valencia here last summer, so as far as they are concerned we are a bunch of jokers), and we've all probably concluded that Arsenal are back in the title race and Liverpool are really shit.

And I don't mean shit like if your dog takes a poop and you've got to pick it up on the side of the road—you know, you let out a big long sigh, "Uhh...Shit—God dammit Rocky."

No, I mean like what farmers use to fertilize their farms. Like big huge rancid pills of cow dung. Liverpool play like about 40 of those cow mounds right now, just waiting to be buried in the ground so other clubs can thrive of their absolute shitness.

The Match

That being said. Liverpool smoked us in the first half. However, I think it was purely down to our Liverpool imitations (being shit) rather than their phenomonenal play. They only scored one goal, and we were lucky about that.

The Penalty

Rather than discussing exactly what went on in the match (I don't think that is necessary because, for me, unless you have an excellent excuse, if you didn't watch that match on Sunday, you are not really an Arsenal fan) I think I'll just focus on an important part of the match, and discuss the Gerrard penalty.

For me two things are clear.

1) William Gallas is still an asshole, and that was ridiculous defending. He looked like he was doing a Blanka low kick in Street Fighter.

2) That was not a penalty.

Now I've seen penalties awarded for less, and I probably would have been expecting the referee to point to the spot if the shoe was on the other foot. However , I think Howard Webb has got it right.

I think penalties are designed to award players with a free kick inside the box when they are denied a scoring opportunity. Steven Gerrard, because of his clumsy touch, had no such scoring opportunity, and therefore he shouldn't be awarded with "another free chance at goal."

I've seen players kick the ball out to the corner flag, get tripped up seconds later and get penalties. I think this is wrong.

This weekend Jens Lehmann stamped on an opposing team's player's foot while he had the ball in his hands. He was given a straight red, and the other team scored the ensuing penalty kick.

I just tihnk perhaps an indirect free kick would be more suitable in this situation.

You know what...Fuck all that. What am I talking about? If you foul someone else on the pitch if you have the ball or not, it's a free kick. Whether you maintain control or not, it's a free kick.

It should probably be the same with penalties, as I think the application of the rules for free kicks and penalties should be the same in order to make play in the box a little bit cleaner. How many times have we see a player denied a chance at a free header because of short or shirt tugging?

OK, I tried to defend Arsenal's cause, and I still think Gerrard was "playing for the penalty," but Howard Webb probably got this one wrong technically, and correct ethically.

Strikers, Yummy

Who would you guys like to see us sign in the January Transfer window?

I'm pulling for Kun Aguero cause he's my favorite player in the world, but that is never going to happen, especially as he's already going to Chelsea, and the coont is coop tied.

I would love to know your thoughts. I think Gignac is the most realistic because he is not UCL tied, he's big, and he's the top scorer in the French league...oh, and he's French, but whenever I've seen him play he's just been a big lump.

OK that's all for now guys,

ArsenalAdam

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