WHEN WILL ARSENAL GET THE POINT? Sunday September 21 2003 By Philip Cornwall
It was all so unnecessary. Arsenal were 15 minutes from coming out of Old Trafford with a valuable point and a restored reputation. Instead, though they went back to the top of the league, their foolishness ensured that this game will damage them in weeks to come. Quite what the Football Association will make of it all is anyone's guess. The temptation must be to throw the book at them. Patrick Vieira's threatening behaviour earned him a second yellow card completely unnecessarily and was just the latest example of an Arsenal player deciding that rather than waiting for the referee to act he would take the laws into his own hands. Ruud van Nistelrooy, it is true, reacted, in Martin Tyler's words, as if confronted by "a spitting cobra". The angle from which Steve Bennett saw the incident may have suggested that there was contact, given that reaction - but I don't think Bennett thought so. A set of studs in someone's thigh would have brought a straight red card, rather than the second yellow Vieira deserved and received for his ungentlemanly conduct. And whatever Van Nistelrooy did, it did not merit the childish stupidity that Arsenal showed at the final whistle. Arsene Wenger's reaction, once again refusing to accept that his side were in the wrong, was sadly predictable. At least he shook hands with Sir Alex Ferguson rather than slapping him, but otherwise he showed himself a poor leader of men, a setter of bad examples, a lesser man than I believed and hoped him to be. Referee Bennett, a controversial selection because he took charge of the Community Shield between the two sides, had a good game. It was not his fault that his assistant flagged when Thierry Henry broke from his own half midway through the first period, denying the France star a one on one that could well have broken the deadlock. He was right not to give a penalty against Ashley Cole when he was struck by a cross from Ronaldo, even though the "defender" had both hands out in front of his chest. He was right about the yellow cards he showed, including that for Van Nistelrooy for the foul on Vieira that provoked the Arsenal captain into his stupid reaction. Bennett caught Martin Keown with a hand in Diego Forlan's back in stoppages and rightly pointed to the spot. If anything, he favoured Arsenal: there was no flag for Jens Lehmann advancing from his assistant, so he can't be blamed for that, but the clear encroachment should have spelt a retake. Some people objected to his appointment, after the Community Shield. He had a much better game at Old Trafford and should be considered for other matches involving or between these sides, not least because to do so would lend credence to the notion that Arsenal have any case whatsoever against him. He has done his job honestly and to the best of his ability - and rather better than any of his critics could manage. Arsenal's fault is a collective one. Punishing individuals has failed to reform characters or bring compliance with acceptable minimum standards of conduct. The only sanction that might possibly force the club to change its ways must be considered: points deduction. This was used in 1990 when this fixture spilled over into a 21-man frank discussion, with one absentee (David Seaman) and the odd peacemaker. United lost one point, Arsenal two. There is nothing on this occasion to reprimand the home team with, but three points off the Gunners' total would be a language that the polyglot Highbury staff could all understand. Such a move would no doubt have the lawyers rubbing their hands in glee. It might seem draconian. But in the absence of any sign whatsoever that Arsenal realise they have a problem, the FA have to come up with something and I cannot see what else would work. ___________________________________________________________ indomail - Your everyday mail - http://indomail.indo.net.id ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> ReplayTV: CNet Ranked #1 over Tivo! Instant Replay & Pause live TV. Special Sale: 50% off! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UUMW7B/.5qGAA/ySSFAA/GtUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Subscription info WWW http://red11.org/list Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] = subscribe to the list. [EMAIL PROTECTED] = unsubscribe from the list. Post message [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
