Chapter 1: What were the critical moments in Arsenal's match against West Brom?
Sanchez, it's in. Here's Gibbs, he's desperate not to lose against his old team. Penalty for handball by Chambers. Here goes Rodriguez, and it's 1-1 at the Hawthorns.
That is Arsenal away on Arsene Wenger's record-breaking day. Petr Cech booked for his part after the final whistle, giving his reaction now to Guy Havilland.
Petr, it's not often we see you get angry and get a yellow card, what are your thoughts?
First, I got a yellow card for saying that this is not a yellow card, that every time we have meetings with the referees prior to the season, and every time this comes to this point where the player is too close to the ball, he has no chance to react, he has his hands by his side, there will never be a penalty, the referee gives this.
two minutes to go, that's why I asked him why he changed his opinion to give the penalty when every time we have this meeting where it's clear that they are saying this is not a pen.
And that got booked as well, so I think this is the most disappointing, because he could have told me, whatever, come later or something like that, he just walked away, gave me a look, I was not rude, I just asked a question, and I think this disappoints me even more.
Can you see why he gave the penalty at all?
No.
What did he say when you asked him why he gave it? Nothing. You're really angry, aren't you?
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Chapter 2: How did Petr Cech react to the controversial penalty decision?
He'll take it.
Of course you appeal.
You appeal for everything you can. But it's a horrendous decision. It really is. It's a grey area in football right now. Because there's no doubt at all that he's not put his hand to the ball. That's ball to hand.
We saw the Yoshida one yesterday for Southampton against Manchester United. Mourinho was complaining that that cost them the victory yesterday. And then this, the next day, is it that consistency which is so frustrating for the managers?
What a lot of defenders tend to do now is just put their hands behind their back just to take it out of the equation. But there, his arms are in a natural position. He's
balanced he's trying to you know if anything doesn't want that ball to hit his arm it's a really poor poor decision now J Rodriguez might say you know what it was one you know they were lucky should have had one early in the season for West Brom but as a defender it makes it so hard for you as well you even think it's shocking a lot of people put their hands behind the back but when you do that you're unbalanced
When you try and turn, you can't turn with your arms behind your back. He's got in there, going to put his arm out, ready to defend and to hit it from there and give a penalty.
You wouldn't have even been appealing for that in the West Brom camp.
Oh, I definitely would have, for sure. But looking at it and seeing it, it's not a penalty.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of the penalty decision for Arsenal?
He's got a split second to look at it. I think when he's looking sideways on, he sees Chambers' arm lift up. And I think because he sees it lift up, he thinks it goes towards the ball. You can understand from his position why he gives it, but I don't think he realises that he's just running and it's so close. When Gibbs knocks the ball in, it strikes him on the arm.
Unfortunately, from Mike's point of view, he's pointing to the spot. He thinks generally it's a penalty. No referee ever gives a penalty if they don't think it is. But for me, sat in a studio with the benefit of many, many replays, I think he's wrong.
Dermot, thank you for your thoughts. As I said, Happy New Year to you. Let's hear from Arsene Wenger then, robbing him of three points here on what has been his record-breaking afternoon. Here he is with Guy Havard.
Arsene, the big moment, what are your thoughts?
It's disappointing to see that, you know, and what can you do? You can talk and talk and talk. It doesn't change anything in any way. The Premier League doesn't face a problem, nor of a schedule, nor with the referees. I just would like to remind that I did fight very hard with David Dean many years ago, that the referees become professional, but their level unfortunately doesn't go up.
100% wrong, the decision? Yes, in my opinion, but it's difficult to accept. It's more than the decision that is involved in that and it's not the first time that it happens. But it's best we don't talk about it. We know deeply what's going on and we just have to deal with it.
Mike Dean spoke to you during the game after that incident. What did he say? Not a lot. Will you speak to him afterwards or do you bother speaking to referees?
No, I will not speak to him, no.
VAR is coming in, the FA Cup is being introduced next week. Will that have made any difference today, had it been used?
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Chapter 4: How do the panelists assess the refereeing standards in the Premier League?
We have three. And you can look at this since the start of the season, the Premier League as well. has to become serious a little bit and look at how the schedule is fair or not fair. On our side, it's completely unfair.
Jose Mourinho complained about the schedule. Isn't it the case that lots of managers are unhappy with the schedule?
Yes, of course. That's even a better reason to look at it. Since the start of the season, you have always to look, when you play against a team, how long was their rest and how long was your rest before the preparation. If we play every day, I have no problem. If the team we play against has played the day before as well, I accept it completely.
But the way they organise the schedule cannot be right. It's nothing to do with sport, with top-level sport.
You think that was the difference then today? You were maybe not as sharp as West Brom were? Of course.
Of course. When you have made top-level sport, you wouldn't even question that. Thanks very much for your time. Thank you.
Scheduling a problem and in the focus and also the VAR that we're talking about that will be coming in for his Carabao Cup semi-final. It's with you in MLS.
Has it cured all the ills? No, it definitely hasn't cured everything. You know, obviously still the referee has to still go over and look at the screen and make a decision for himself. You know, he still gets told in his ear that it can be an incident. So he has to go over and look at it. So, you know, it's still on the referee's basis, still on his field to make his decision. But I mean...
you know it's still a shocking decision to give the penalty do you think it will make our game better i'm not a big fan i must admit i'm a matter of fact goal line technology has been brilliant for the game i feel when you're having it's about opinions like ray and i and liam we could be here all day talking about is that a penalty has he got the ball first is he not i think it's going to slow the game up there are certain decisions i.e that one perfect for but i think the other grey areas are going to be a nightmare and i think you're going to undermine managers it's going to take too long and i think it's going to take away the feel that referees sorry undermine referees and they need that feel at times they'll lose their confidence i
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Chapter 5: What insights does Arsene Wenger provide after the match?
I think the referees themselves are absolutely desperate to get it.
They want all the help they can possibly get. So, Arsenal disappointed. But, of course, the flip side is that Albion are delighted with that point. Alan Pardew's reaction next. Well, this game exploded into life with a few minutes left. Sanchez deflected free-click from James McLean, an own goal in the end, and then that penalty, which they didn't feel was, Rodriguez converted for one apiece.
Alan Pardew's reaction with Guy Havilland.
Alan, a very controversial end to that game, but the smiles are all yours.
Yes, because when you keep talking to a team about doing the right things and application, you learn your luck, you learn your luck, and it doesn't happen. It's hard, you know. But we did, we got something today at last. The decision is a tough one on Arsenal. I've seen it, and wow, he could not have given it, could have given it, whatever.
But we deserved a break, and if they keep doing that kind of commitment and effort, we'll get enough breaks in the games to win. Was that the best 90 minutes since you've been here? No, I think Liverpool was better, I think Everton was better, but we went toe-to-toe at times.
You can't go toe-to-toe every moment of the game with a team of that quality, but as much as we could, we did, and they got their reward.
The goal that you conceded, though, must have frustrated you.
Yeah, you bring a sub on, James McLean, who's as honest as the day is long. I said to him at the end, you can't turn your back like that. And it's there for everyone to see, so he can't hide from it. He has to learn from that. But he gave us some energy and helped us get back in the game, actually.
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Chapter 6: How is Arsenal's schedule impacting their performance?
So I'll be working hard with the chairman and the sporting director here to do that.
You may be under pressure as well to keep Johnny Evans. A lot of speculation linking him with big clubs. Is that something that you may have to work with for the benefit of the squad?
I don't know because there's been no bid for Johnny, so there's no decision to be made on that. When that bid comes in, if it comes in, we'll make a decision.
Thanks for your time.
Cheers, Guy.
Well, we come to West Brom's potential business, but first the goal they conceded. He talked about James McLean's role in the wall, but what was he actually doing there in the first place, Liam?
Yeah, obviously he's standing on the side. I think Fozzie's obviously set the wall before and set it alongside the post, and then suddenly James has stepped in. But like Alan Pardew said, I think you've got to stand up and take it where it hurts. Well, here's a clue.
Let's watch the manager. James.
Yeah. Wall. Like you say, Fozzie set the four in the wall. They're ready to go, and then he steps in, obviously.
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Chapter 7: What are the potential transfer needs for West Brom?
You're doing nothing, staying five yards from the wall. You might as well stand in the wall. But you don't expect him to turn his back. So that was the bad decision from Pardew.
And especially coming on a sub-rate, it's difficult, isn't it? Because sometimes you come on, you're not quite aware who you're marking from set pieces, what if you're going to be in the wall or not. The manager says you go in the wall, but you've just got to take one for the team.
It's as simple as that. That's not good enough.
They all look at that. And Alan's right. You know, there's no problem in criticising a player. He's been around. He's an international. He knows. You know as a player when you've made a mistake, you can't turn your back now.
What do we make of West Brom then, Liam? That's seven without a win under Alan Pardew. But is that something else to build on today?
It's definitely something to build on. I think they're playing a very good Arsenal team, but coming at home, playing today, maybe they might have hoped for a little bit more in the second half, but the more that Arsenal built the pressure and built the passes and got going, I think at the end of it they were taking them on one draw.
You know, it's something to build on, going into the West Ham game. You know, that's another winnable game for them. And that's a huge game, isn't it?
Absolutely. A place above them. You know, Alan Pardew knows what he's doing. He knows the market. He knows what this team needs now. He's had a good look at it. It's six, seven games now he's had there. And he'll need to be really clever in the market. And it might be the right character, a big character in that dressing room, someone that can just do something different, a bit of pace up front.
But I thought I was impressed with West Brom today. I thought they certainly deserved a draw. Or is it that just a bit of quality, Ray, that you...
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Chapter 8: What does the future hold for Arsenal in the new year?
I thought he was excellent. So, you know, he'll know exactly who he needs. He knows the Premier League very well, knows the players he needs to bring into the club. I'm sure the chairman will be backing him. That's what you've got to do. When you get a new manager, you've got to back him. You saw a new manager into the club, you've got to back him all the way.
And for Arsenal, how big is that game against Chelsea now? Huge, absolutely huge. And today, whether Arsene Wenger was moaning about the fixture list, you know, it's not fair that they had two more days rest. You've got to get on with it. And this game coming up now is huge for Arsenal at the weekend.
They'd be so disappointed going back on the coach, back to London, knowing he's dropped two points there. But, you know, now you've got to get the troops back up and ready to go. Ozil could be back as well, which would be a big bonus. He missed him today, right?
That's almost a glimpse of the future. without Mesut Ozil. He gets a lot of criticism, but he is the player that can do something special.
If you look at the end of the game, did they test Foster enough in that second half? Lacazette had a really good opportunity, great bit of movement, and he got his shot away, says it with his legs. But other than that, there wasn't really a goal threat. And credit to West Bromwich Albion for that, because they defended very well.
At times, they didn't move the ball quick enough in the final third, because they got everybody behind the ball, and it's very difficult to break teams down like that. How hard is it?
Three days, then a match, then three days, then a match? It's difficult. It's very difficult. You've just got to go home and rest your legs up. Every game is a big game in the Premier League. Either you're scrapping for points at the bottom or you're going for it at the top and trying to pick it out. You've just got to pick yourself up again and move on. I do get it.
I can understand Arsene Wenger's frustration, but he's been in long enough now. Sometimes you get the rub of the draw, you know, how the games pan out for you. Other days you don't. But, you know, to keep moaning about it now, I mean, it's like it happens. You know you're going to have a tough one. I've just got to make sure they get the players.
They're two minutes from hanging on for a win there. It would have been a great three points for them.
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