LONDON: Managers under pressure become increasingly desperate. After drawing two games in a week to drop to sixth in the table, Arsene Wenger finally finished blaming referees and turned his gaze on the media.
“The referees get away with you, with the English press always, no matter what they do,” he said.
This was bizarre. Wenger appeared to be hinting at a conspiracy by referees, or at least mass ineptitude on the part of referees, abetted by the press’ reluctance to talk about it. Specifically he seemed rattled by the fact that not only had two (well, one, in truth) controversial penalty decisions gone against his side, but the fact that Tottenham’s opener the previous night had been offside. “You have watched the game last night,” he said. “You couldn’t read a line about it today.” Every single match report mentioned it.
The idea that we should discuss refereeing decisions even more than we do now is abhorrent. Refereeing stories are easy. Journalists love writing them. You ask one manager what he thinks about the penalty/ red card/ offside decision, then you ask the other. There is instant controversy. Twitter whips itself into a lather. The comments section overflows. There is traffic. There is buzz. And nothing changes. Nobody learns anything. There is nothing more boring than discussions about refereeing decisions.
Take the two most recent incidents to which Wenger was referring. At West Brom, Calum Chambers was penalized after Kieran Gibbs’ cross struck his arm which was raised, away from but in front of his body. Was it intentional? Almost certainly not. Was the arm in an unnatural position? No. Had it not been there the ball would have hit Chambers’ chest. Do I think it should have been a penalty? No, but I understand why the referee Mike Dean did. From his angle, he saw the arm away
from the body and presumably — we do not know because referees are forbidden to explain such things — thought it was out to the side. So it was unfortunate but hardly a scandal.
Wenger’s more specific rage was directed Anthony Taylor for the penalty he awarded Chelsea after Hector Bellerin had kicked Eden Hazard’s heel. Here, it was hard to see any ambiguity. One player had kicked another in the penalty area. It was a slightly unusual incident in that players rarely kick the bottom of one another’s boots, but he did kick him: Penalty.
From what I can glean from social media, it seems I am in the majority in both cases: the one at West Brom should not have been given; the one against Chelsea should. But it hardly matters. Most Arsenal fans will be certain both decisions were wrong; most West Brom and Chelsea fans will be sure the penalties their sides got were correct. Nobody ever yields in such disagreements; nobody’s mind is ever changed by what
phone-ins and social media companies laughably call “the debate” around them.
Sane people retreat from any discussion, and the stage is left for the spittle-flecked zealots to rant away into an increasingly weary darkness.
This is the modern world, in football as it is in politics. Far more productive would be to acknowledge that there are grey areas and that referees, being just as human as Wenger’s defenders, occasionally make mistakes.
“He saw what he wanted to see,” Wenger said of Dean after the West Brom game, a comment that has, understandably, brought an FA charge.
To allege conspiracy not merely impugns Dean — who may be a little over-fond of the limelight but whom nobody has ever seriously accused of corruption — but undermines the integrity of the game as a whole.
More than that, it makes Wenger look foolish. If there were a
conspiracy, why did Jack Wilshere escape a second yellow card for a clear dive on Wednesday? Against Tottenham, it may be remembered, Mike Dean allowed two Arsenal goals that were marginally offside, the first of them coming from a free-kick that probably shouldn’t have been given.
Arsenal are struggling this season, playing fitfully and reliant on two players who are out of contract in June. There is no conspiracy; there is just a team that, once again, seems to lack the mental capacity to apply itself consistently.
Arsene Wenger’s ‘conspiracy’ talk is hiding flaws in Arsenal side
Arsene Wenger’s ‘conspiracy’ talk is hiding flaws in Arsenal side
Netflix releases teaser for documentary series on Saudi Pro League
- ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ will be released on Nov. 21
RIYADH: Netflix will launch its latest sports doc series, “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” on Nov. 21, the streaming platform revealed in a short teaser.
The docuseries will take football fans behind the scenes of a league with the ambition to become one of the top leagues in the world.
The six-episode series, produced by Whisper, delves into the journey of five Saudi football clubs, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Etiffaq, as they compete to be crowned Saudi Pro League champions.
Well-known international players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Neymar (Al-Hilal), Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) and Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard, as well as great Saudi players such as Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), Feras Al-Buraikan (Al-Ahli), Talal Haji (Al-Ittihad), and Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al-Nassr), all make appearances, describing their journeys, challenges, failures and triumphs throughout the 2023-2024 season.
Beyond the pitch, fans will witness the Saudi Pro League’s vision of transformation unfold, as international legends join the league and make a profound impact on the clubs, the competition and the Saudi football stars.
Featuring exclusive interviews from some of the world’s best players, managers and commentators, along with in-depth stories and highlights from the campaign, the series will offer fans backstage access to the developments shaping the future of the Saudi Pro League.
We’ll be Al-Nassr fans for a weekend, says Al-Ittihad’s Fabinho
- The Brazilian midfielder helped his team to a 1-0 win over Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli ahead of Al-Nassr’s clash with table-topping Al-Hilal in the Roshn Saudi Pro League’s Capital Derby
JEDDAH: Brazilian star Fabinho has revealed that the Al-Ittihad players are going to become Al-Nassr fans, but just for the Roshn Saudi Pro League Capital Derby against champions and current leaders Al-Hilal on Friday.
On Thursday night Al-Ittihad defeated Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli 1-0 as a part of the SPL’s Derby Week.
The win in the Sea Derby ensures Al-Ittihad is equal on points with Al-Hilal at the top of the SPL table but behind the Riyadh club on goal difference, having played an extra match.
Having dropped only three points all season — in a defeat to Al-Hilal — Al-Ittihad, title holders in 2022-2023, have emerged as the reigning champions’ biggest challengers for the league trophy this season.
With that in mind, the former Liverpool midfielder wants both Jeddah and Riyadh to be all yellow this weekend.
“At the moment we are fighting against Al-Hilal at the top of the league, so first we have to do our job,” he told Arab News before the clash in Jeddah.
“And of course we’ll support Al-Nassr this weekend. If they get a good result, it will be good for us, but as I said before we have to care about us first.”
As well as the Sea Derby and Capital Derby, the SPL also hosts Al-Ettifaq versus Al-Qadsiah in the Eastern Derby on Saturday.
All the matchweek nine clashes are a part of the innovative new Derby Week in the league this season.
Humbert knocks out Alcaraz to join Zverev and Tsitsipas in Paris Masters quarterfinals
- Humbert: There were some incredible points, I think I have just experienced one of my greatest moments on a tennis court
- Eighth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to have an outside chance of reaching the season-ending ATP Finals
PARIS: Frenchman Ugo Humbert harnessed the energy of the home crowd and produced one of his best career performances in beating Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters on Thursday.
A flurry of forehand and backhand winners had Alcaraz 5-0 down in a first set so one-sided that Alcaraz — a four-time Grand Slam winner — ironically waved his racket and grinned to the crowd after holding in the sixth game.
“There were some incredible points, I think I have just experienced one of my greatest moments on a tennis court,” Humbert said. “I don’t want it to end here.”
The second-seeded Alcaraz controlled the second set but, after missing chances during the third set, served to stay in the match. The crowd jeered a replayed point but Alcaraz was unperturbed and held comfortably for 5-5.
Sensing a big upset, Humbert got the Bercy Arena crowd going in the next game.
The 26-year-old left-hander looked like he was about to do a lap of honor after a brilliant forehand pass down the line at full stretch and earned ovations following a superb angled volley and a booming winner that flew past his Spanish opponent.
“I have to congratulate Ugo. His performance has been really high,” Alcaraz said. “The way he hits the ball is unbelievable.”
Alcaraz said Hubert deserved victory, but added that the unusually high speed of the court made it more difficult for him — especially with the low trajectory of Humbert’s shots.
“The stats came out that this is the fastest court in the Masters 1000, probably on the tour,” the 21-year-old Spaniard said. “For example, the Davis Cup indoor court (was) way slower.”
A rattled-looking Alcaraz trailed 0-30 in the 12th game. Umpire Richard Haigh intervened to calm the crowd, urging them not to cheer when Alcaraz made a fault on serve and then said in English “Guys, you’re affecting both players.”
Serving again to stay in the match at 15-40, Alcaraz saved one match point but returned long on the next as the 15th-seeded Humbert set up a last-eight contest with Australian Jordan Thompson.
Eighth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to have an outside chance of reaching the season-ending ATP Finals. Dimitrov, who served 17 aces, needs to reach Sunday’s final and next faces 2018 champion Karen Khachanov.
Earlier, Alexander Zverev silenced the raucous home crowd, beating French prospect Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The third-seeded German compiled 16 aces compared to nine for the 20-year-old Fils in their first indoor meeting.
“I am happy I hung in there today,” Zverev said. “He is a great player and has improved a lot this year. I am looking forward to the next few battles we are going to have.”
Zverev, the French Open runner-up, saved three break points in serving for the match at 5-3.
“The atmosphere here is a lot louder than at Roland Garros,” the 27-year-old Zverev said. “The crowd is on top of you.”
He next plays 10th-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in their 16th career meeting, with Tsitsipas 10-5 up.
The big-serving Greek earlier rallied to beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2 to stay in contention to qualify for next month’s Finals in Turin, the year-end tournament gathering the season’s top eight players.
Although Tsitsipas hit nine aces and saved all three break points, he converted only three of his 11 break-point chances.
In other third-round matches, ninth-seeded Alex De Minaur kept up his chances of reaching the Finals with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 victory against Britain’s Jack Draper, the US Open semifinalist, and 2022 champion Holger Rune edged out lucky loser Arthur Cazaux 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Khachanov won 7-6 (5), 6-4 against Alexei Popyrin and Thompson advanced to the first Masters quarterfinal of his career by beating veteran Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 7-6 (5).
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner pulled out of the Paris Masters as did the record seven-time champion Djokovic.
Man United hope for Van Nistelrooy magic, Arsenal face Newcastle test
- United, 14th in the Premier League and with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim widely expected to soon take over as coach, could potentially fall to 16th if results go against them this weekend
- Mikel Arteta’s men have pushed City all the way in the past two seasons and know they cannot afford to fall off the pace, with Liverpool also riding high
LONDON: Manchester United face Chelsea on Sunday with interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy at the helm while faltering Arsenal face a potentially tricky trip to Newcastle.
Top-four hopefuls Tottenham and Aston Villa go head to head as the three teams in the relegation zone — Ipswich, Wolves and Southampton — each look for their first win of the season.
Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the weekend action.
The current Manchester United side are a pale shadow of the team Ruud van Nistelrooy played for under the leadership of Alex Ferguson.
The former striker, in temporary charge after Erik ten Hag’s sacking earlier this week, will be in the dugout against Chelsea, looking to build on the club’s 5-2 League Cup win against Leicester in midweek.
United, 14th in the Premier League and with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim widely expected to soon take over as coach, could potentially fall to 16th if results go against them this weekend.
Chelsea are riding high in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge, just one point off the top four, and will be well rested after the Italian changed his whole team for their midweek League Cup defeat against Newcastle.
But Van Nistelrooy, who spent five years at United as a player from 2001 to 2006, will be hoping he can inspire his charges during his brief spell in the Old Trafford spotlight.
Injury-hit Arsenal suffered the frustration of conceding a late equalizer against Liverpool last week, following their shock defeat at Bournemouth.
If they lose at St. James’ Park on Saturday, they could find themselves a daunting eight points behind champions City by the end of the day.
Mikel Arteta’s men have pushed City all the way in the past two seasons and know they cannot afford to fall off the pace, with Liverpool also riding high.
The Gunners’ 3-0 League Cup win against Preston in midweek gave them a lift ahead of tough games against Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea, with Gabriel Jesus scoring his first goal since January.
Although any match at St. James’ Park is potentially daunting, Newcastle are more of a threat on paper than on the pitch at the moment following a run of five league games without a win.
Tottenham are a conundrum — capable of scintillating attacking football but frustratingly fragile.
Ange Postecoglou knows his inconsistent team must put a run of results together if they are to challenge for the top four, which they missed out on last season.
Spurs have enjoyed big wins against Everton, Manchester United and West Ham but they have already suffered four defeats in their nine Premier League matches so far.
Spurs, who have won eight of their past 10 games in all competitions, suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last week before a morale-boosting League Cup win against Manchester City in midweek.
Postecoglou will be desperate to have Son Heung-min fighting fit after the South Korean missed three of the past four league games.
Unai Emery’s Villa have dazzled in the Champions League and have made a strong start to their Premier League season, sitting fourth in the table, level on points with Arsenal.
They have drawn three of their past four league games to lose ground on the leaders, but have won on their past two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and boast significant firepower with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran in the ranks.
Fixtures
Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)
Newcastle vs. Arsenal (1230), Bournemouth vs. Manchester City, Ipswich vs. Leicester, Liverpool vs. Brighton, Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham, Southampton vs. Everton, Wolves vs. Crystal Palace (1730)
Sunday
Tottenham vs. Aston Villa (1400), Man Utd v Chelsea (1630)
Monday
Fulham vs. Brentford (2000)
Verstappen unfazed by criticism after aggressive battle with Norris in Mexico
- Verstappen: It is my 10th year in F1. I know what I am doing
- Verstappen has 362 points in the drivers’ championship with four races and two sprint races to go, while Norris has 315
SAO PAULO: Three-time defending Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he doesn’t care about criticism of his racing tactics at the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend.
The Red Bull driver saw his championship lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris decrease to 47 points after a race in which he received two 10-second time penalties — one for forcing Norris off the track, and a short time later for gaining position when he left the track.
Verstappen spoke ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.
“It is my 10th year in F1. I know what I am doing,” Verstappen said in a press conference at the Sao Paulo track. “I like to win. I don’t like to lose. I think not many people like to lose. I just tried to maximize the result and, like I said, some you win, some you lose.”
After Sunday’s race, won by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, the FIA also handed Verstappen two penalty points, bringing his total to six for a 12-month period.
Verstappen has 362 points in the drivers’ championship with four races and two sprint races to go, while Norris has 315. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has a more distant shot at the title. He currently has 291 points.
Asked about criticism from 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill, who considered Verstappen to be too aggressive, the Dutchman responded: “I don’t listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I’m a three-time world champion.”
Verstappen said he takes advice on his racing from “people who are close” and “with a good heart.” He denied that one of those is three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet.
Later, Norris told journalists at Interlagos that Verstappen “deep down” knows he made mistakes in Mexico.
“I still have a lot of respect for Max and everything he does. Not respect for what he did last weekend, but I have respect for him as a person and for what he has achieved,” the McLaren driver said. “It is not for me to speak to him. I am not his teacher, his mentor or anything like that.”
Norris also said “Max knows what he has to do” about the incidents in Mexico.
“He knows that he did wrong, deep down he does. And that’s for him to change, not for me,” the British driver said.
Mercedes driver George Russell, who is one of the directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said a post-race meeting in Mexico turned out to be positive despite the differences between Verstappen and Norris. He also agreed that the actions of the Dutchman should have been punished as they were.
“If you read the rules, there are lines that say if you’re driving erratically or dangerously, you’ll be punished,” Russell said. “You can argue that if a driver outranks himself and doesn’t make the corner on the exit, that is erratic because you’re driving off the racetrack. So there is an element of interpretation that for sure just needs to be cleaned up.”
Verstappen said in his press conference that F1 is probably over-regulated.
“The rulebook is only getting bigger and bigger every single year,” the three-time champion said. “I don’t think that’s always the right way forward.”
