Aston Villa v Arsenal Post Match Thread

[rob_bridge]

I worked behind the bar in the students' union when I was at uni. The Levellers played it one night and their pig of a frontman walked in in the afternoon and gobbed on the floor. A proper, from deep in the lungs, flob. I've never forgiven him or them. And they've always been shit anyway

Like the younger audience members too. So the stories go.

[rob_bridge]

From The Athletic

Apologies if posted before.


Aston Villa continued their flawless win streak at home on Saturday, achieving another major scalp as they defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League fixture.

Villa took an early lead when John McGinn finished a flowing move, however, the visitors thought they had levelled the scoreline late in the game through Kai Havertz — only for it to be ruled out for handball.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta — who was serving a touchline ban and has been charged by the FA for criticising officials earlier this season — said he “preferred not to comment” when asked about the situation after the match.

But why did the incident create confusion and what are the reasons for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upholding the on-field official Jarred Gillett’s handball decision? The Athletic explains a pivotal moment from the intriguing affair…

What happened?
In the 89th minute, Havertz brought down a cross from Martin Odegaard in the Aston Villa penalty area. The ball pinballed between him and Villa defender Matty Cash, appearing to hit both players on their arms, before the Germany international stabbed a volley past goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

As Havertz began celebrating, he was immediately pulled back as Gillett had blown the whistle for a handball on the 24-year-old.

Replays showed that the ball struck Cash’s shoulder before ricocheting off Havertz’s right arm. And after a lengthy review, which lasted several minutes, the VAR confirmed Gillett’s decision.


What does the law say?
Handball is a subjective law of the game and is the only one that uses the term “deliberate”, which leaves it up to the referee’s interpretation.

Law 12 of the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) ‘Rules of the Game’ outlines three scenarios in which a handball can be given.

The rules state, “It is an offence if a player:

deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball
touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised
scores in the opponents’ goal:
directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.”
So, in summary, there are three ways it can be handball: 1) deliberate 2) by making your body bigger, and 3) if you are in the act of scoring a goal.

How was the law applied in this case?
Due to Havertz and Cash’s proximity in the incident, and the speed at which the ball was moving, it is unlikely that either handball fulfilled the first criteria of being “deliberate”.

Secondly, neither player appeared to make their body “unnaturally bigger”. Cash had his right arm by his side and was falling when the ball hit his right shoulder. Similarly, Havertz’s body was swivelling as he attempted to control and make a connection with the ball when it ricocheted off Cash and struck the Arsenal midfielder’s arm.

However, because Havertz was in the act of scoring a goal his handling of the ball — even if accidental — was deemed an offence. As he wasn’t in the process of scoring a goal, Cash’s accidental handling of the ball was no

[Havencheese]

GET A DOG UP YA, ARSENAL!

[dave shelley]

What would have been extremely sweet on Saturday would have seen the Havertz goal disallowed and for Villa to go immediately down the other end and be given a penalty to make it 2-0.

[Somniloquism]

Accuweather has just told me there is a flood warning for London. Have the gooners not stopped crying? Are the combined tears joining up with the ones from the Spurs and Chelsea fans?

[Chris Harte]

Events overnight in Turkey reminded me to ask this, but have Arsenal been charged by the FA of failing to control their players after Saturday yet? I understand the rule is (or was) if more than two players approach the ref it is grounds for such a charge.

[Jon Crofts]

Checks badge.

No.

[Chris Harte]

Checks badge.

No.

Bit of a joke really, isn't it? The Arse were a disgrace like that on Saturday.

[langleylions]

Anybody know the reason we are not giving out attendance figure at the games nowx, they never announce it now???

[Bad English]

It's to keep the guess the crowd thread crowd on their toes.

[Louzie0]

Anybody know the reason we are not giving out attendance figure at the games nowx, they never announce it now???

It's to keep the guess the crowd thread crowd on their toes.

I agree, BE.

Thanks for this info, langleylions. 
It explains why it’s not in the match thread, PWS usually notes it and so do the Beeb in their live text, as well as in the match report.

I’ve written about this to BBC Sport and pointed out that the figures are very late in appearing this season, compared to the practice in previous seasons. I hadn’t considered that the Club might be holding things up, but Villa v Arsenal’s attendance is nowhere to be seen yet and the figure for Villa v MancCity has finally appeared on the BBC page today, a whole week after the match.

Interestingly, it’s 1000 fewer than the figure that appeared on the ‘home attendances’ independent website, last week, so they can’t both emanate from the Club! Points have been allocated from the first figure published, as notified to players, but it’s not ideal.

[SteveN]

It’s Dougenomics

[Louzie0]

It’s Dougenomics

Blast from the past!😊
I believe our present owners are demonstrably more financially responsible, compliant and competent than er, several others may have been before them.

I’ve alsobegun to wonder if the totally paperless and one ticket only admission system introduced this season has had an impact on Villa’s ability to confirm a number within an hour or so after KO.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Anybody know the reason we are not giving out attendance figure at the games nowx, they never announce it now???

It's to keep the guess the crowd thread crowd on their toes.

I agree, BE.

Thanks for this info, langleylions. 
It explains why it’s not in the match thread, PWS usually notes it and so do the Beeb in their live text, as well as in the match report.

I’ve written about this to BBC Sport and pointed out that the figures are very late in appearing this season, compared to the practice in previous seasons. I hadn’t considered that the Club might be holding things up, but Villa v Arsenal’s attendance is nowhere to be seen yet and the figure for Villa v MancCity has finally appeared on the BBC page today, a whole week after the match.

Interestingly, it’s 1000 fewer than the figure that appeared on the ‘home attendances’ independent website, last week, so they can’t both emanate from the Club! Points have been allocated from the first figure published, as notified to players, but it’s not ideal.

Providing those numbers aren't supplied by Zanioli.

[Louzie0]

Anybody know the reason we are not giving out attendance figure at the games nowx, they never announce it now???

It's to keep the guess the crowd thread crowd on their toes.

I agree, BE.

Thanks for this info, langleylions. 
It explains why it’s not in the match thread, PWS usually notes it and so do the Beeb in their live text, as well as in the match report.

I’ve written about this to BBC Sport and pointed out that the figures are very late in appearing this season, compared to the practice in previous seasons. I hadn’t considered that the Club might be holding things up, but Villa v Arsenal’s attendance is nowhere to be seen yet and the figure for Villa v MancCity has finally appeared on the BBC page today, a whole week after the match.

Interestingly, it’s 1000 fewer than the figure that appeared on the ‘home attendances’ independent website, last week, so they can’t both emanate from the Club! Points have been allocated from the first figure published, as notified to players, but it’s not ideal.

Providing those numbers aren't supplied by Zanioli.

😁