THE big story in football this week is not about 'little' Bradford City becoming the first club from the fourth tier of English football to reach a Wembley cup final.
It is not about Swansea becoming the first Welsh club to reach the final of the English League Cup. It's not even about Arsenal scoring five against West Ham or the serious injury sustained by Hammers' Dan Potts in the same match.
No. The Story of the week is about a ball-boy who refused to give the ball back and was kicked in the ribs for his trouble. Correct me if I am wrong but is it not the job of the ball-boy to retrieve the ball and return it to the players as quickly as possible? Is that not the first lesson they receive at ball-boy school?
Yet young Charlie Morgan - I say young but he is in fact 17 years old, a veteran in ball-boy circles - had boasted on his Twitter profile earlier in the day that he was going to 'waste time.'
Of course from a fans point of view that is totally understandable. With his club so close to a cup final he wanted to do everything he could to ensure they got there. We have all felt like that, right? However, this usually just involves singing as loudly as we can and perhaps booing the opposition players.
But on the night he was not a fan. He was representing the club, his club, and doing a very important job. A job that most young lads would give their right arm to do.
Five minutes before the much-talked about incident, with fifteen minutes of the tie remaining and Swansea still leading 2-0 on aggregate, the ball went out for a Swansea goal-kick and Morgan took his time retrieving it. So much so in fact that several Chelsea players gestured to him and pointed it out to referee Chris Foy.
Perhaps what should have happened then was for someone from the club to have had a quiet word with him. Tell him that was not really on. Maybe the assistant referee on that side of the pitch could have intervened.
But no. So when the ball went out of play again soon after, Morgan was not going to rush. In fact he wanted to take even more time. As Eden Hazard approached to get the ball himself, Morgan turned away to prevent him from reaching it.
Of course Hazard was frustrated. His team was losing and he wanted to get on with the game. With so many footballers these days criticised for cheating and time wasting, it was refreshing to see one in such a hurry to get on with it. Funny how losing does that to you.
Morgan then appeared to slip and land on the ball, but instead of moving away so Hazard could get it, he again shielded it from the Chelsea man.
Hazard had clearly had enough now and his frustration got the better of him. He knew, as we all knew, that Morgan was deliberately trying to stop him getting the ball. He reacted in exactly the same way as most of us would in that situation. He attempted to kick the ball from under him.
Unfortunately it appeared he had also caught Morgan in the ribs with his boot and the ball-boy made sure everyone knew about it. Milked it for all it was worth.
At this point Foy was looking in the opposite direction and was only alerted to the incident by the reaction of Swans skipper Ashley Williams, who ran over to confront Hazard. After consulting with his assistant, the official then produced a red card for the Belgian for serious foul play, but was it really a sending off offence?
I have to say I have never seen an incident like that in over 30 years of watching the game but I have seen players fall on the ball and then prevent an opponent from getting it. What usually happens is a sort of free-for-all where one or more of the surrounding players try to kick the ball out, inevitably catching the player who is protecting the ball. And the result? Usually a yellow card for the player on the ground for ungentlemanly conduct.
So what happens now? Well despite his apology immediately after the game, Hazard will no doubt get the book thrown at him. Fined, banned and warned about his future conduct.
Meanwhile young Morgan, just five years Hazard's junior, will probably get away scot-free. His days as a ball-boy are probably over anyway, as according to his Twitter profile he had only come out of 'retirement' for the Chelsea game due to others dropping out.
No doubt he will be looked on a celebrity in his village with countless interviews on the local news and slaps on the back from his mates. A claim for compensation could also be on the cards as I bet the injuries he sustained are far more serious than they first appeared. And Hazard is loaded, right?
I wouldn't be surprised if he was given free tickets to the final by the club and travels to Wembley on the team bus. He certainly played his part in getting them there.
But shouldn't he have to face some sort of punishment? The lad who ran onto the pitch to confront Rio Ferdinand in the recent Manchester derby, a lad around the same age as Morgan, was banned from all football grounds for life.
Of course that was far more serious, even though he was prevented from actually reaching Ferdinand by the intervention of Joe Hart, and I wouldn't suggest a similar punishment in this case. But he certainly should never be allowed to represent the club again and be denied pitch-side access in future.
As usual I expect the FA will probably take the PC approach and set up a Ball-boy Academy to teach youngsters the art of retrieving the ball both quickly and safely. It will probably be called the Charlie Morgan Academy and have his statue outside the front gate.
But we need to keep some perspective. This was a one-off incident. Both parties made mistakes and I'm sure both realise that now. Perhaps we should just accept that and move on. However, I get the feeling we haven't quite heard the last of this.
Thursday 24 January 2013
Second half Arsenal blitz sees off Hammers
ARSENAL 5 WEST HAM UNITED 1
By Ricky Butler at The Emirates
FOUR goals in a scintillating 10 minute second half spell gave Arsenal a much needed victory at the Emirates last night, although the result was somewhat overshadowed by a serious head injury to West Ham substitute Dan Potts.
The match was held up for more than 10 minutes in the second half as the defender lay stricken on the turf following a clash of heads with Bacary Sagna, and with Sam Alladyce having already used his three substitutes, the Hammers finished the game with only ten men. The result however, had long been decided by Arsenal's earlier blitz.
Arsene Wenger's side began the night seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs so they knew nothing less victory would be enough to keep their Champions League hopes alive. But despite going a goal down inside twenty minutes, courtesy of a great strike from Jack Collison, Arsenal fought back in impressive style.
Having missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea due to illness, Lukas Podolski was back in the side and it was his magnificent 25 yard drive that brought the Gunners level just four minutes after Collison's effort.
Arsenal should have been ahead by the break as Podolski saw another effort cleared off the line by Joey O'Brien, although Aaron Ramsey was forced to do likewise at the other end to deny Carlton Cole.
But Arsenal nerves were settled within a minute of the second half. Theo Walcott whipped in a low corner from the left and Oliver Giroud arrived to turn the ball home at the near post. And that opened the floodgates.
Six minutes later Podolski played a lovely one-two with Santi Cazorla and the little Spaniard tucked the ball home from close range with a clever back-heel. Podolski then crossed for Walcott to make it 4-1 with his 16th goal of the season, and the German then created the fifth for Giroud with another inviting delivery from the left.
A repeat of the seven they scored against Newcastle recently looked on the cards, but the injury to Potts 15 minutes from time ended the match as a contest. Walcott and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both came close in a subdued finale but the points were already safely in the bag.
"West Ham defended very well in the first half," said Wenger. "We looked dangerous but couldn't finish our chances. We came out in the second half and attacked with tremendous pace. The injury to Dan Potts was the end of the game really but until that moment we played very well.
"In the Chelsea game there were a lot of positives, it was disappointing to lose, but we took the positives and transferred that into to this game.
"You want to be at your best every single game but we have many new players and it takes some time to get to know each other very well and I think that understanding is getting better."
West Ham manager Alladyce said: "It was 10 minutes of genius. You could say we could defend better but I thought they hit the ground running.
"The encouraging thing for them was that we switched off for one corner and that lifted them. In the first half we defended exceptionally well but that 10 minutes blew us away."
ARSENAL - Szczesny 7, Sagna 7, Mertersaker 7, Vermaelan 7 (Koscielny 58, 7), Gibbs 8, Ramsey 9, Cazorla 8, Wilshere 8, Walcott 8, Giroud 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 77, 6), Podolski 9 (Santos 70, 6).
WEST HAM UNITED - Jaaskelainan 6, Reid 6 (Diarra 62, 5), Tomkins 5, O'Brien 6, Demal 7, Collison 7 (Potts 62, 6), Taylor 6, Noble 6, Nolan 5, Cole(C) 6, Vaz Te 5 (Diame, 6).
REFEREE: A. Marriner 6 - An easy night for the Birmingham-based official.
MAN OF MATCH: Podolski (Arsenal) - One cracking goal and three assists. Possibly his best game for the club.
TICKETS SOLD: 60,081
By Ricky Butler at The Emirates
FOUR goals in a scintillating 10 minute second half spell gave Arsenal a much needed victory at the Emirates last night, although the result was somewhat overshadowed by a serious head injury to West Ham substitute Dan Potts.
The match was held up for more than 10 minutes in the second half as the defender lay stricken on the turf following a clash of heads with Bacary Sagna, and with Sam Alladyce having already used his three substitutes, the Hammers finished the game with only ten men. The result however, had long been decided by Arsenal's earlier blitz.
Arsene Wenger's side began the night seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs so they knew nothing less victory would be enough to keep their Champions League hopes alive. But despite going a goal down inside twenty minutes, courtesy of a great strike from Jack Collison, Arsenal fought back in impressive style.
Having missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea due to illness, Lukas Podolski was back in the side and it was his magnificent 25 yard drive that brought the Gunners level just four minutes after Collison's effort.
Arsenal should have been ahead by the break as Podolski saw another effort cleared off the line by Joey O'Brien, although Aaron Ramsey was forced to do likewise at the other end to deny Carlton Cole.
But Arsenal nerves were settled within a minute of the second half. Theo Walcott whipped in a low corner from the left and Oliver Giroud arrived to turn the ball home at the near post. And that opened the floodgates.
Six minutes later Podolski played a lovely one-two with Santi Cazorla and the little Spaniard tucked the ball home from close range with a clever back-heel. Podolski then crossed for Walcott to make it 4-1 with his 16th goal of the season, and the German then created the fifth for Giroud with another inviting delivery from the left.
A repeat of the seven they scored against Newcastle recently looked on the cards, but the injury to Potts 15 minutes from time ended the match as a contest. Walcott and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both came close in a subdued finale but the points were already safely in the bag.
"West Ham defended very well in the first half," said Wenger. "We looked dangerous but couldn't finish our chances. We came out in the second half and attacked with tremendous pace. The injury to Dan Potts was the end of the game really but until that moment we played very well.
"In the Chelsea game there were a lot of positives, it was disappointing to lose, but we took the positives and transferred that into to this game.
"You want to be at your best every single game but we have many new players and it takes some time to get to know each other very well and I think that understanding is getting better."
West Ham manager Alladyce said: "It was 10 minutes of genius. You could say we could defend better but I thought they hit the ground running.
"The encouraging thing for them was that we switched off for one corner and that lifted them. In the first half we defended exceptionally well but that 10 minutes blew us away."
ARSENAL - Szczesny 7, Sagna 7, Mertersaker 7, Vermaelan 7 (Koscielny 58, 7), Gibbs 8, Ramsey 9, Cazorla 8, Wilshere 8, Walcott 8, Giroud 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 77, 6), Podolski 9 (Santos 70, 6).
WEST HAM UNITED - Jaaskelainan 6, Reid 6 (Diarra 62, 5), Tomkins 5, O'Brien 6, Demal 7, Collison 7 (Potts 62, 6), Taylor 6, Noble 6, Nolan 5, Cole(C) 6, Vaz Te 5 (Diame, 6).
REFEREE: A. Marriner 6 - An easy night for the Birmingham-based official.
MAN OF MATCH: Podolski (Arsenal) - One cracking goal and three assists. Possibly his best game for the club.
TICKETS SOLD: 60,081
Monday 21 January 2013
Expectations lowered...
GONE are the days when I expect us to beat any of the big clubs. All I hope for is a good performance and that we can pick up enough points against the rest to finish in the Champions League places.
So in that respect the game at Chelsea was a success. If you discount most of the first half anyway. But it would have been a very different story had Giroud put away the early chance that presented itself. For Arsenal to have won they simply had to score first, and Giroud simply had to score.
Walcott put the Frenchman clear and he should have taken a touch to push the ball in front of him instead of letting it go across his body which made the angle so much tighter. Walcott has had his critics but you just know this is the sort of chance he would have stuck away, as he proved in the second half.
We played well after the break of course, forcing Chelsea back and creating numerous opportunities to get something from the match, but you cannot play for just 45 minutes against the top sides and expect to get a result.
Yes, both their goals were dubious to say the least. Coquelin was clearly fouled in the build up to the opener while it did appear as though Ramires simply slipped over in the incident that led to the match-winning penalty. Or perhaps he just conned the referee. He anticipated the challenge from Szczesny and fell over. Either way it was a harsh award.
But at least we showed some character after the break. Walcott's goal, his 15th of the season - not bad for someone who allegedly can't finish - came at just the right time and I was convinced we would go on and get a point.
But the late pressure came to nothing and in the end we were grateful to Vermaelen for a goal-line clearance to deny Ba an undeserved Chelsea third.
So where does it leave us? Well the squad looks very thin on the ground. With no Arteta, Podolski or Ox, the bench was especially weak. Things were so bad that even Arshavin was given a run-out in the closing stages. I really wanted him to grab the equaliser but it is not going to happen for the little Russian now so it is time to wave a fond farewell.
With under two weeks left of the 'Transfer Window' (sponsored by Sky Sports), Wenger really does need to spend. A striker, a defensive midfielder, a left back and a centre half are all required if we are going to fulfil the potential in players like Wilshere, Ox, Walcott and Cazorla.
But it probably won't happen. Wenger will not buy a defensive midfielder as he will not want to hamper the progress of Coquelin. Plus, he will say, we have Frimpong waiting in the wings and Diaby is fit again.
Having persuaded Walcott to sign a new contract on the basis he will play more often as a central striker, Wenger will not want to buy another forward now, especially as we already have Giroud and Podolski.
So we will probably see out the season with the same group of players who have so far flattered to deceive. At times brilliant - Liverpool and Reading away, Southampton and Newcastle at home were all performances of potential Champions.
Yet at other times we have been so poor it's been painful. Norwich and Villa away for example, Swansea at home. Sometimes we have gone from one extreme to other within the same 90 minutes. As we did at Chelsea.
Having said all that, I still think we will finish 4th. We have an easier run-in than most of the teams around us and we seem to have a knack of pulling it around when it really matters.
But is that enough? Many Arsenal fans would argue that it is not. With the price of tickets surely we should be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, City and United, they say. Plus it is nearly 8 years since we last lifted a trophy.
However, I would take 4th place over an FA Cup success any day. A day out at Wembley is all well and good but it is soon over and then all you have are the memories, a few hundred quid less in your pocket and a place in the Europa League to look forward to.
No, not for me. I feel we have to be in the Champions League. After everything that has happened this season, that would be a real success. Plus it would mean Spurs missing out again. Come on you would like that wouldn't you?
So in that respect the game at Chelsea was a success. If you discount most of the first half anyway. But it would have been a very different story had Giroud put away the early chance that presented itself. For Arsenal to have won they simply had to score first, and Giroud simply had to score.
Walcott put the Frenchman clear and he should have taken a touch to push the ball in front of him instead of letting it go across his body which made the angle so much tighter. Walcott has had his critics but you just know this is the sort of chance he would have stuck away, as he proved in the second half.
We played well after the break of course, forcing Chelsea back and creating numerous opportunities to get something from the match, but you cannot play for just 45 minutes against the top sides and expect to get a result.
Yes, both their goals were dubious to say the least. Coquelin was clearly fouled in the build up to the opener while it did appear as though Ramires simply slipped over in the incident that led to the match-winning penalty. Or perhaps he just conned the referee. He anticipated the challenge from Szczesny and fell over. Either way it was a harsh award.
But at least we showed some character after the break. Walcott's goal, his 15th of the season - not bad for someone who allegedly can't finish - came at just the right time and I was convinced we would go on and get a point.
But the late pressure came to nothing and in the end we were grateful to Vermaelen for a goal-line clearance to deny Ba an undeserved Chelsea third.
So where does it leave us? Well the squad looks very thin on the ground. With no Arteta, Podolski or Ox, the bench was especially weak. Things were so bad that even Arshavin was given a run-out in the closing stages. I really wanted him to grab the equaliser but it is not going to happen for the little Russian now so it is time to wave a fond farewell.
With under two weeks left of the 'Transfer Window' (sponsored by Sky Sports), Wenger really does need to spend. A striker, a defensive midfielder, a left back and a centre half are all required if we are going to fulfil the potential in players like Wilshere, Ox, Walcott and Cazorla.
But it probably won't happen. Wenger will not buy a defensive midfielder as he will not want to hamper the progress of Coquelin. Plus, he will say, we have Frimpong waiting in the wings and Diaby is fit again.
Having persuaded Walcott to sign a new contract on the basis he will play more often as a central striker, Wenger will not want to buy another forward now, especially as we already have Giroud and Podolski.
So we will probably see out the season with the same group of players who have so far flattered to deceive. At times brilliant - Liverpool and Reading away, Southampton and Newcastle at home were all performances of potential Champions.
Yet at other times we have been so poor it's been painful. Norwich and Villa away for example, Swansea at home. Sometimes we have gone from one extreme to other within the same 90 minutes. As we did at Chelsea.
Having said all that, I still think we will finish 4th. We have an easier run-in than most of the teams around us and we seem to have a knack of pulling it around when it really matters.
But is that enough? Many Arsenal fans would argue that it is not. With the price of tickets surely we should be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, City and United, they say. Plus it is nearly 8 years since we last lifted a trophy.
However, I would take 4th place over an FA Cup success any day. A day out at Wembley is all well and good but it is soon over and then all you have are the memories, a few hundred quid less in your pocket and a place in the Europa League to look forward to.
No, not for me. I feel we have to be in the Champions League. After everything that has happened this season, that would be a real success. Plus it would mean Spurs missing out again. Come on you would like that wouldn't you?
Thursday 17 January 2013
Late Wilshere strike sends Arsenal through
FA CUP 3rd ROUND REPLAY
ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
A WONDER goal three minutes from time from the outstanding Jack Wilshere kept Arsenal's season alive at a frozen Emirates last night.
The 21 year-old, who only returned from a 17 month injury nightmare in October, finally ended the brave Swansea resistance with a thumping half-volley just as it was beginning to look like a tale of missed opportunities for Arsene Wenger's side.
Arsenal had dominated the second half to such an extent that Wojciech Szczesny was in danger of catching hypothermia in the freezing temperatures.
Chance after chance went begging as the Gunners did everything but score. Theo Walcott, playing on the right, chipped narrowly wide after a superb through ball from Abou Diaby, before seeing a close range effort cleared off the line by Danny Graham.
Oliver Giroud, back in the starting line up in place of Lukas Podolski, twice came close as did Santi Cazorla, while Michel Vorm had earlier saved well from Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin.
But with extra time less than five minutes away, Wilshere finally made the crucial breakthrough. Cazorla found Giroud on the right side of the penalty area and the Frenchman's lovely flick sat up nicely for Wilshere to drill a half-volley beyond Vorm from 20 yards.
After Sunday's defeat at the hands of Manchester City, this was a match Wenger's side could ill-afford to lose. With the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware this season, an early exit would have piled more pressure on the Frenchman.
The fans had already shown their disillusionment with thousands of seats left empty, a situation rarely seen at the Emirates, but those who stayed away missed a thrilling tie.
Swansea gave as good as they got in an even first half. Former Gunner Kyle Bartley headed onto the crossbar while only a desperate, last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen denied Nathan Dyer.
But there was only one team in it after the break. With Abou Diaby and Coquelin providng a shield in front of the back four, Wilshere and Cazorla were given the freedom to run riot. But with time running out and extra time imminent, Wilshere finally broke Swansea hearts to seal a 4th round trip to Brighton.
"Jack was outstanding tonight," said Wenger. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up the pitch, and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.
"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.
"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes. A complete midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said: "We tried, we defended well, at times heroic.
"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when they score'.
"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.
"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."
Meanwhile, Wilshere was delighted with only his second goal of the season.
"It was a great set-up from Olivier [Giroud}. I didn't want extra-time. It was important we got the winner before 90 minutes. We know Brighton play football, they play great football, so it will be another tough tie."
ARSENAL - Szczesney 6, Sagna 6, Mertersaker 6, Vermealen 7, Gibbs 7, Diaby 6 (Ramsey 82, 6), Coquelin 6, Wilshere 9, Cazorla 8, Giroud 8, Walcott 7. Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski.
SWANSEA CITY - Vorm, 8 Richards 6, Bartley 7, Chicco 7, Tiendalli 7, Brittan 6, Agustien 6 (Hernandez 59, 6), Dyer 6, De Guzman 6 (Jung-Yeong 60, 6), Routledge 6, Graham 5(Michu 71, 6). Subs not used: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Shechter.
REFEREE: M. Clatenberg 7 - Got all the big calls right and went about his business in a calm and assured manner.
MAN OF MATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) - Is there a better midfielder anywhere in the World right now ?
TICKETS SOLD: 58,359
ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
A WONDER goal three minutes from time from the outstanding Jack Wilshere kept Arsenal's season alive at a frozen Emirates last night.
The 21 year-old, who only returned from a 17 month injury nightmare in October, finally ended the brave Swansea resistance with a thumping half-volley just as it was beginning to look like a tale of missed opportunities for Arsene Wenger's side.
Arsenal had dominated the second half to such an extent that Wojciech Szczesny was in danger of catching hypothermia in the freezing temperatures.
Chance after chance went begging as the Gunners did everything but score. Theo Walcott, playing on the right, chipped narrowly wide after a superb through ball from Abou Diaby, before seeing a close range effort cleared off the line by Danny Graham.
Oliver Giroud, back in the starting line up in place of Lukas Podolski, twice came close as did Santi Cazorla, while Michel Vorm had earlier saved well from Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin.
But with extra time less than five minutes away, Wilshere finally made the crucial breakthrough. Cazorla found Giroud on the right side of the penalty area and the Frenchman's lovely flick sat up nicely for Wilshere to drill a half-volley beyond Vorm from 20 yards.
After Sunday's defeat at the hands of Manchester City, this was a match Wenger's side could ill-afford to lose. With the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware this season, an early exit would have piled more pressure on the Frenchman.
The fans had already shown their disillusionment with thousands of seats left empty, a situation rarely seen at the Emirates, but those who stayed away missed a thrilling tie.
Swansea gave as good as they got in an even first half. Former Gunner Kyle Bartley headed onto the crossbar while only a desperate, last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen denied Nathan Dyer.
But there was only one team in it after the break. With Abou Diaby and Coquelin providng a shield in front of the back four, Wilshere and Cazorla were given the freedom to run riot. But with time running out and extra time imminent, Wilshere finally broke Swansea hearts to seal a 4th round trip to Brighton.
"Jack was outstanding tonight," said Wenger. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up the pitch, and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.
"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.
"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes. A complete midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said: "We tried, we defended well, at times heroic.
"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when they score'.
"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.
"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."
Meanwhile, Wilshere was delighted with only his second goal of the season.
"It was a great set-up from Olivier [Giroud}. I didn't want extra-time. It was important we got the winner before 90 minutes. We know Brighton play football, they play great football, so it will be another tough tie."
ARSENAL - Szczesney 6, Sagna 6, Mertersaker 6, Vermealen 7, Gibbs 7, Diaby 6 (Ramsey 82, 6), Coquelin 6, Wilshere 9, Cazorla 8, Giroud 8, Walcott 7. Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski.
SWANSEA CITY - Vorm, 8 Richards 6, Bartley 7, Chicco 7, Tiendalli 7, Brittan 6, Agustien 6 (Hernandez 59, 6), Dyer 6, De Guzman 6 (Jung-Yeong 60, 6), Routledge 6, Graham 5(Michu 71, 6). Subs not used: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Shechter.
REFEREE: M. Clatenberg 7 - Got all the big calls right and went about his business in a calm and assured manner.
MAN OF MATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) - Is there a better midfielder anywhere in the World right now ?
TICKETS SOLD: 58,359
Tuesday 15 January 2013
City fans should look closer to home for the price of tickets
IS it just me who sees the irony in Manchester City fans complaining about the price of tickets at the Emirates on Sunday?
It has been their club's irresponsible transfer and wage policy which has forced clubs like Arsenal to raise ticket prices in order to try and compete.
Arsenal has taken a more frugal approach. They only spend on transfers and wages what they can recoup in ticket sales and merchandise. In other words - the correct way.
What this has meant however, is that they have been forced to sell their better players to clubs like City in order to balance the books. They have also been left behind in the transfer market. A player who might otherwise have been happy coming to the Emirates on £55k a week is suddenly having his head turned by the prospect of £150k at Eastlands.
And transfer fees go up as a result. Arsenal bid £10million, City bid 25. The only choice Arsenal have is to either risk future financial meltdown by speculating with money they do not have, or increasing ticket prices to try to make up the gap.
So excuse me if I feel very little sympathy for the City fans who travelled to London on Sunday. Of course I understand that the fans are not to blame for how their club chooses to do business but they need to look a little closer to home before complaining about others.
They have been quite happy to see their club splash out unsustainable amounts of money on transfer fees and wages as they have seen them go from a yo-yo club into Premier League champions. They have been quite happy for them to trample over other clubs along the way.
You cannot have it both ways. The consequences of your clubs' actions are higher ticket prices for everyone.
So City fans, next time you think you are paying too much to watch your team remember the trophies you have won in recent years and how you have been able to win them. Surely £62 is a small price to pay?
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