Today's Football

[sniffer66]

Havertz should have been off, and I'm a Gooner !

[Euler]

Havertz should have been off, and I'm a Gooner !

It's all so inconsistent

[firlandsfarm]

Surprised they didn't go for a couple more goals. A draw at Palace will no longer be enough if Man City win both games.

The commentators on Sky explained why (I think it was Neville). It takes a little logical thinking!

At present GD is equal and City have more GS. If City win their last 2 games then they will go at least +2 on GD, maybe more. If Arsenal draw at Palace their GD would need to be at least +3 on current. So Arsenal would have needed to beat Burnley by at least 4 goals (the one scored is already accounted for in this assessment) and if in winning their last two games City add 4 to their GD score so Arsenal would have needed 6! The formula being Arsenal would have needed to beat Burnley by City's increase in their GD in their last two matches +2 (being the one they did score and the one needed for their GD to be superior to City's)! And I did all that without asking AI

Clearly Arteta took a view that the win was more important than trying to chase a high number of unknown goals and risk drawing. If Arsenal win at Palace none of the above is relevant.

[firlandsfarm]

Havertz should have been off, and I'm a Gooner !

Agreed but it's over a season, not one game. I'm sure I could go back over Arsenal's previous 36 games this season and find someone on the opposition who should have been sent off! The problem with VAR is it's supposed to right the wrongs but instead on too many occasions it highlights the inconsistencies in it's own decisions.

[jamesedwards]

Surprised they didn't go for a couple more goals. A draw at Palace will no longer be enough if Man City win both games.

The commentators on Sky explained why (I think it was Neville). It takes a little logical thinking!

At present GD is equal and City have more GS. If City win their last 2 games then they will go at least +2 on GD, maybe more. If Arsenal draw at Palace their GD would need to be at least +3 on current. So Arsenal would have needed to beat Burnley by at least 4 goals (the one scored is already accounted for in this assessment) and if in winning their last two games City add 4 to their GD score so Arsenal would have needed 6! The formula being Arsenal would have needed to beat Burnley by City's increase in their GD in their last two matches +2 (being the one they did score and the one needed for their GD to be superior to City's)! And I did all that without asking AI

Clearly Arteta took a view that the win was more important than trying to chase a high number of unknown goals and risk drawing. If Arsenal win at Palace none of the above is relevant.

This was my point. At home against such a lowly team I would have gone for the 4 goals as you are taking a risk assuming you are going to go to Palace and win. Especially the way Arsenal have been playing for the last month.

[firlandsfarm]

This was my point. At home against such a lowly team I would have gone for the 4 goals as you are taking a risk assuming you are going to go to Palace and win. Especially the way Arsenal have been playing for the last month.

Yes but 4 would not have given any security but for Burnley to have snatched a late equaliser would probably have meant saying bye-bye to the title and even if they got their 4 but Burnley got 1 back then the exposed risk would not have been worth it. And remembering 4 may not have been enough. No, I agree with Arteta that on Monday evening a win was the most important outcome. The problem was caused by not scoring more against Fulham in the second half and not picking up another 1 or 2 against West Ham.