Trips to the Emirates tend to be riddled with angst if you’re of a yellow and green persuasion. If it’s not being swept away by wave after wave of intricate one-touch football, and taking a shalacking as a result, it’s Wenger-mesmerised officialdom who send the blood pressure soaring.
Last night was the latter.
That’s not to say Andy Madley’s weak performance was the only reason the Gunners and not the Canaries are in the get for the quarter-finals. That can also be put down in part to City’s wastefulness in front of goal in that second half spell when it felt like going 2-0 up would be good enough for the win; Mario Vrancic in particular choking when he really should have scored.
Yet it’s impossible not to feel a little aggrieved when you watch your centre forward get wrestled to the ground just as he’s beaten the last man only for the referee reluctantly wave a half-hearted yellow. It felt – certainly at the time – like one of those 99 times out if 100 decisions and the bigger question is what would have happened if the centre-forward had been Olivier Giroud and the last man had been Christoph Zimmermann?
Some have pointed out there was still work to be done and Nelson Oliveira was some way off pulling the trigger but in different surroundings it would be difficult to see Mohamed Elneny being waved anything other than red. Did he deny a goalscoring opportunity? I’d say so.
Unfortunately it set the tone for the remainder and such was Master Madley’s apparent desire not to provoke a reaction from Arsene Wenger, when James Husband hit the deck courtesy of a friendly arm around the throat there was chance more of Ipswich stringing six passes together than there was of City being awarded a pen.
The thought never entered our Andy’s head…
But hey, it was a night of too many positives to get bogged down on the performances of two starstruck officials and with our heroes being roared on by a bank of yellow nearly 9,000 strong, there was plenty more to suggest that something really quite good is building right under our noses.
Again Daniel Farke stayed true to his belief that cup competitions are to be treated with respect and just 48 hours after the intensity and rigour of a local derby saw fit to make just four changes, with Husband, Vrancic, Josh and Oliveira coming in for Marco Stiepermann, Wes, Yanic Wildschut and Cameron Jerome. The downside of course was the physical demands it placed on this group of young men, demands that were multiplied when the game was extended to 120 minutes. Wenger meanwhile made 11 changes from Sunday.
Hopefully James Maddison hobbling off with a calf problem, Tom Trybull being riddled with cramp and others blowing out of their backsides will not affect Farke’s options ahead of Derby’s visit – but there’s no doubting it is going to be a very busy week at Colney for the medical and conditioning teams; both of whom have already done sterling jobs in getting this group in such fine physical condition.
That City were able to go for the full 120 minutes and still ask questions at the death with echoes of Portman Road still ringing in their ears was an achievement in itself and owed as much to the mental shape of this squad as it did to the physical one. The much talked about togetherness clearly extends way beyond Colney and social media and goes deep into the trenches and the running through brick walls cliché applies to each other as well as the head coach.
Yet last night was more than just a display of guts and bravery. Yes it was against a much-changed Arsenal side, and we were spared the likes of Sanchez, Özil and Lacazette, but it was still a side laced with expensively acquired talent and we took them on in a game of football (as opposed to that thing we witnessed on Sunday).
The stats show us to have been second best, unsurprisingly, but they hide the fact we were a danger on the break and in addition to the Vrancic miss, Josh and Oliveira both had chances to double the lead. As it transpired we had to be content with the one goal but that in itself was a beauty in its construction and execution; Josh clinical, Maddison inch-perfect and Trybull tenacious.
That it gave 8,800 the chance to open their lungs and rejoice was perfect and for those present it will be one of those ‘I was there’ evenings. Spine tingling. Even if a talented 18-year old by the name of Edward Nketiah was to ultimately spoil the party.
As a spectacle it was right up there, but in three days time it’s back to the grind. Derby will present a very different challenge to those faced in Suffolk and Islington and we return to the conundrum of how to win at home.
If Daniel and his team can crack that little riddle then we really could be entering a special time.
Perhaps in the end it will be a blessing that we escape the extra games of further cup exploits with our very thin squad. A great effort but perhaps highlighting our weakness in front of the goal. We have the creativity to open up any side in the league but lack that killer instinct to finish the job. I don’t mean to be picky when we are on such a good run but there is a limit to how many times you can win one nil. If we could solve the scoring problems I would be looking for top two.
Frustration in equal measures at our inability to finish the game off and the two poor decisions by the referee but another confidence boosting performance. Think it’s unfair to complain about their winning goal not being a corner though, no matter how animated Farke was it clearly went out for a corner before coming back on and crossing the sideline. Not that Elneny should have been on the pitch to take said corner…
As I’ve said elsewhere, you are wrong about the referee, much as it pains me to admit it. He got all the decisions you mention spot on. The corner was correct (and has been shown by TV replays to be so), Nelson wasn’t through on goal – there was another defender. And Husband clearly dived over as soon as he felt contact when all he had to do was stay on his feet and cut it back for a tap in.
He did make other errors though – Wilshere should have had two yellows – and he gave free kicks for robust challenges against us without doing the same against them.
But huge positives from the performance and a great night to be a Norwich fan despite the result – felt a bit like the San Siro as the Arsenal fans looked as bemused by our friendly fanaticism as Inter Milan did.
In hindsight, would agree the Husband one was only in the ‘seen them given’ category, but I’d argue that the Oliveira foul was one that more often not have yielded a red.
I felt at the time that the penalty decision was 50/50 but having seen it again, I am convinced Arsenal would have got it had the situation been reversed.
The Oliviera incident is clear cut to me. The other defender was not in range and Nelson would have been in on the keeper. Therefore, a clear “goal scoring opportunity”
Only just seen the highlights, and have to wonder what Mr Wenger’s comments would have been had the Oliviera and Husband incidents have been perpetrated against HIS team………
It seems that what was a great night and performance would have got the rewards it deserved if only the officials had a whiff of some cojones however small!!
O T B C
Really feels wrong to focus on the performance of Andy Madley – Arsenal is always a difficult place to visit but his decisions didn’t help our cause.
The evening should rightly be remembered for all the positives, both on and off the pitch, from those in yellow and green.
We were the victims of a very one sided refereeing display unfortunately, but we created more than enough to put the game out of reach of ‘the Arsenal’. I thought Oliveira was a little bit too selfish last night, particularly when Maddison should have taken the set piece in the 2nd half, he wasted it. Really enjoyed my first visit to the Emirates, much better than Wembley as a stadium. Also liked the old fashioned chanting from home support. Reminiscent of The World Cup in 1966!
Its impressive what Farke has achieved so far in his short reign. Funds must be allocated to him in January to back him going forward, plus Maddison & Trybull must be tied down to long term contracts. Really enjoying watching Norwich again after the past two seasons of no plan B under Neil. To think he wouldn’t even give Maddison a chance. That really says it all for me. #FARKELIFE
I really enjoyed reading your spot-on comments. Great stuff.
As for future funding: I guess AN wasted most of it. We will see what transpires.
A very interesting read, and I would only disagree with the blessing in disguise comment above city should be in the next round and the Ref and his assistances need reporting for being unfit for purpose.
I know Team Farke said he would give cup games there dye respect and play a strong team in every round but it would have been good to see a few of the upcoming players given a chance, Abraham and Fonkeu are both excelling at under23 level and one of them might just have proved they are more than just potential.
As always Wenger uses both cup games to give youth a chance which is commendable but yet again his team are not the so call purist of football as he tries to make out, I have read that over the last few years Arsenal have one of the highest count for both Red and Yellow cards and trying to bully officials during games but Wenger denies this and doesn’t try and kurb his team, it is about time the FA took action.
Reports that an Olympic Boxer and city supporter got abused by another city supporter not acceptable who ever it was should be identified made to make a public apology and be banned for the rest of the season or longer by the club.
My point Alex is that we are so thin on the ground that the extra games take their toll (particularly 120mins) and for me the league is what really matters. I do understand your view though and we could both be happy come the end of the season if we continue to improve.
Perfectly summed up Gary.
I’m not a regular away fan but over the past 50 years have mustered a few hundred visits to various parts of the country adorned in yellow & green or at least a scarf. Last night was the first time I can ever remember still feeling a sense of elation in defeat. Molineux & Cardiff come a close second but somehow last night it was different. Everyone was together, fans, players, coaches, staff. The final huddle almost did for me!
I felt sorry for Arsenal fans, they can never feel the way we do, can never understand, why do they bother I asked myself?
D F’s words afterwards in defeat were remarkable. The transformation of our club is remarkable. .Finally, how good is Angus Gunn?
As you say Gary, an, ‘I was there’ game and talking of them, it’s Derby on Saturday, now who can remember 26th April 2011?
‘C’mmn u Yellows’
Good summary Gary and wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment in your comments Colin M.
My sense is that Herr Farke is building something special that we’ve have not seen since Lambert’s time….unity and belief.
There’s a lot of cliche’s about ‘team spirit’ but without that unbreakable bond our current team seams to have they could not have delivered performances like they did last night and on Sunday without it.
It was a great effort last night against a 14 man Arsenal side!!
Anyway, onward and upwards!
OTBC
Shameful performance by the officials. How anybody can defend them is beyond me – the Nelson foul was the turning point, a goal up, pressing for a second, the ultimate sanction applied to Elnenys foul would have seen us home.
Instead we are denied a famous night and the players are cheated of their just reward for their prodigious effort,
Full credit to the players and coaching staff for the turnaround since millwall and their effort and desire, so missing last season. I hope the resultant extra time hasn’t emptied their collective tank as something is stirring and it would be a shame if this was stalled.
The quality of match officials this season has been abysmal. This clown was the worst yet, whether by incompetence or design.
I share the minority view that the ref got the two big calls right.
Red card?: The law says it’s a red for a foul which ‘denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity’. The key word is ‘obvious’ and the guidance to refs is that it has to be pretty much nailed on.
Refs have always used the acronym DOGSO (deny obvious goal scoring opportunity) but in fact the law used to say ‘clear’ instead of ‘obvious’. The wording was changed to underline the point that it must be a really strong chance.
I think that Nelson was too far out, with two chasing players, for it to be a nailed on chance. In those circs, the correct punishment is a yellow for fouling to stop a promising move.
Penalty?: From my seat in the upper section above the goal, I howled in frustration when Husband threw himself to the floor. I wanted him to stay on his feet (as he definitely could have done, in my opinion) to get a shot away or drive it across for someone else. Instead his theatrical tumble looked so phoney that it probably helped persuade the ref that it wasn’t a pen.
Those thoughts were my instant reaction at the time.
Now I’ve looked at TV replays, slowed down on my Sky box. The defender puts his hand/arm on JH’s face/neck in a very limited pull. Husband chooses, moments later, to throw himself forward, in the opposite direction to the one in which a much, much harder pull would have made him fall.
We’d have been utterly furious if we’d been penalised by a penalty for such a routine challenge.
Bias?: The widely held belief that refs favour ‘big’ clubs is so imbedded in the lore of the game that it’s taken for granted, But it is bollocks.
Think it through with an open mind.
Why do Man Utd get a lot of pens, particularly at Old Trafford? Because they attack a lot and teams defend against them with increasing desperation.
But the biggest factor which encourages the perception of bias is that ‘big’ ciubs are less affected by decisions that go against them.
When we are in the Prem, if we have a goal ruled out for offside, or have a penalty awarded against us, more often or not the result will be affected. So our fans nurse the hurt of the real or imagined injustice.
If those things happen to, say Chelsea, more often or not they’ll still win. So nobody takes much notice of the decisions that go against them.
Except Chelsea. They think they get a bum deal from refs. So do United. So do the fans or every single club.
Consider this too: did we get all the decisions when we were in League One? Our opponents doubtless thought we did. Ditto when we play a ‘smaller’ club in a cup game.
Refs strive not to err. They make about 600 decisions a game, while running about 12K. Every one of their key decisions is reviewed in detail by PGMOL. If that review identifies big, critical mistakes, it will affect the matches the ref gets, his status and his income.
So the idea that Madley was worried about what Wenger would say is just silly. Refs become inured to moaning managers. Madely will have been much more worried about the PGMOL identifying any mistakes.
Our refs are fitter and better prepared than any others in the world. They have individual excercise programmes and diets, which are monitored daily. They have the best sports psychologists and sports scientists that PL money can buy. Getting to the top of their profession is extraordinarily difficult.
If you still think they’re rubbish, perhaps it just proves how difficult their task is. Or dare I suggest it shows something about you? Is it just possible that, for instance, your all-consuming desire for a penalty when Husband tumbles in the box at Arsenal clouds your judgement a tad? Or are you determined to cling to the perpetual alibi of football fans down the ages that we waz robbed?
I was hugely disappointed as I left the Emirates. But I marched out bursting with pride too. It was a real shame we lost, but there was no shame in doing so. It was an exhilarating, hugely encouraging performance. We can all agree on that at least.
I very much liked this summary of the game and I’m glad it didn’t go down the ‘poor little norwich’ route as frankly we matched and bettered Arsenal all the way and only have ourselves to blame for losing.
Someone wrote elsewhere that this was a more premier league-like performance than any time we were in the prem under AN or latter-half CH. I’d agree. We looked so strong and organised. At times, Zimmerman looked like he’d played 100 games for Germany and Husband absolutely shut Theo Walcott out.
I’m angry cos we threw this away, but better to do so like this, where we can learn and take heart from, than against someone like, say, Brentford. I really am very excited about what Farke can do with our club. OTBC