Excitement rises over Arsenal's return, Ben White's Law, rejoining the 92 Club, and those 115 charges...
Will the news that PGMOL are aiming to outlaw infringements at set pieces affect Arsenal this season, and in particular Ben White
Hello!
Happy Thursday!
Is it just me, or are you also ridiculously excited about the return of the Premier League, and in particular, of course, The Arsenal.
Saturday, 3pm, can’t come soon enough.
While pre-season has been fun - and you can’t always say that about the Gunners summer fixtures - games in LA and at the Emirates has simply whetted the appetite for what we all hope will be a momentous season for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Arsenal team celebrate Gabriel’s goal to make it 2-0 vs Lyon. CREDIT:
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Ben White’s Law
I note with some disdain, and, it has to be said, no little sadness and regret, that the PGMOL in their infinite wisdom, have decided to change the way in which holding - ergo, blocking and obstructing - is refereed, especially with regard to set pieces.
The august body that is in charge of officiating the game in England - who also control how VAR operates - are looking to clamp down on players attempting to halt or hinder the movement of an opponent.
This will include the holding of goalkeepers, not to mention penalising anyone who attempts to restrict opposition movement, or ability to claim the ball, in the penalty area at a set piece.
If your glass is half full you could argue it could lead to more penalties being awarded to our stellar attackers.
The flip side of that is goals could be ruled out for infringements.
Or you could simply bemoan the powers-that-be for bringing in what must surely now be called Ben White’s Law.
No truth in the rumour that this picture was taken moments after Ben White learned of PGMOL’s rule change…CREDIT: Picture courtesy of Arsenal FC
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Once a Gooner, always a Gooner
Over the last few weeks of pre-season, I’ve had the honour and privilege of interviewing three good people with strong links to Arsenal - and all for the sportspages of the newspaper I write for, as well as the Gooner Fanzine.
What struck me, was that all three were true Arsenal men, who spoke glowingly about our wonderful club.
I was fortunate enough to grab an interview with Jack Wilshere a couple of weeks ago at Hendon, ditto Ian Allinson (if you know, you know), and earlier this week I had a chat with Andy Woodman.
If you’re not aware, Andy was goalkeeping coach under Arsene Wenger, and still has fierce love and affection for the club.
Apart from being such a good guy, and all round top bloke, Andy is hugely respected in the game.
Not least when showing great strength of character to follow his ambition to be a manager, when departing the Gunners to take over Bromley, who were in the National League.
Since then, as an acclaimed boss, Andy has earned widespread kudos for guiding the Ravens into the EFL.
So, it was with great excitement that I headed down to the engaging Hayes Lane on Tuesday evening to cover Bromley’s first game as a league club, when they hosted AFC Wimbledon in the first round of the League Cup.
My newspaper feature should be out this weekend in print, so please do keep an eye out for it. I’ll also run it here on Saturday morning.
Suffice to say Andy said such hearteningly wonderful things about Arsenal Football Club, while also detailing just why he genuinely believes he can steer his Bromley team to further success in League Two.
And, to cap it all, Andy is big mates with Gareth Southgate, so I even got him to speak with real insight about his friend, for my book on Euro 2024 (watch this space).
So, if you’re into your football, then I would heartily recommend a trip down to Hayes Lane to take in Andy’s Bromley FC.
You won’t be disappointed.
Huge thanks to top man Andy Woodman for his time this week at Bromley FC
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Rejoining the 92 Club
I also enjoyed visiting Andy, Bromley FC, and Hayes Lane, because it also topped up my membership of the 92 Club.
I’ll explain.
I had ticked off my 92nd and final league club out of 92 when I visited Harrogate last April (the day after Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at Manchester City) and had a wonderful day/night out in that welcoming North Yorkshire town.
But with two teams coming up from the National League every season I have to ensure that I have been to both promoted clubs, to ensure I can truthfully say I’ve done all 92 every season.
As an aside, someone asked me ‘how do you prove you’ve been to all those grounds?’
Fair question. And I always answer it by saying: Well, it’s a bit like golf, only people like Donald Trump would move their own ball - meaning you’re only cheating yourself if you fabricate any of it.
That and the fact I would happily tell you the exact date and fixture of all 92 clubs that I attended, along with specific stadium quirks.
For example I absolutely loved Barnsley’s Oakwell, as it was a step back in time, with its traditional pylons and proud, bright red painted brickwork, as the ancient metal turnstiles clanked intermittently. And the fact you could still see the top of a former mineshaft from the press box, housed as it was in a wooden stand, complete with wooden steps. Which I absolutely loved. It also prompted me to pay a post-match visit to the abandoned mine shaft after my press duties had ended. (I’ve posted the article for your delectation below)
Anyway, the fun part of doing the 92, is in the journey.
I got so excited when nearing the fabled number 92, thereby eventually achieving something I’d wanted to do since I was a kid.
Who knew, I would be able to replicate that feeling every season.
You’re assured of a warm welcome at Hayes Lane, home to Bromley FC, where former Gunners coach Andy Woodman is earning rave reviews. CREDIT: @laythy29
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How soon is now
Without going into the concept of sportswashing (not today, anyway) or ‘financial doping’ as Arsene Wenger called the concept, Arsenal have been running the world’s best team extremely close over the last couple of seasons.
For this season, it’s not just the hope that Arteta’s young, hungry, talented, team will finally close the gap, but the expectation that, finally, those 115 charges laid at Manchester City’s door will finally be heard.
Without going into the details of the charges (not today, anyway), or commenting on anything that could be deemed prejudicial to legal proceedings, all the most successful club have one thing in common: A lack of uncertainty on and off the pitch.
But with the charges, come a raft of supplementary questions regarding any possible sanctions.
For, supposing if - and it has to be an if, innocent until proven guilty and all that - City are found guilty of a large number of charges, how do the Premier League ensure justice is served in the world’s most popular league?
(It also has to be an ‘if’ because I spent far too long pouring over the journalist’s legal bible McNae’s when studying for my NCTJ newspaper diploma at Lambeth College to start spouting anything that could be deemed as defamation or libellous. I’ll save that for the amateurs.)
I’m not in favour of retrospectively stripping titles, for all it does is an add asterisk to dusty league tables.
Why? Well, fans of teams who benefit can’t celebrate properly in the moment, players don’t really want medals that relate to previous years, while City fans will always have their memories of watching them win their titles, whatever happens over the next few months.
Nor, will a fine be adequate. Not for a club that is owned by a sovereign wealth fund worth trillions.
Although I do believe there should be an element of financial penalties invoked, it should be as part of further punishments.
Therefore, there has to be a points deduction. And/or the prospect of relegation.
Look at previous cases such as Swindon and Luton Town.
Whose wrongdoing’s were, literally, not in the same league as the charges currently laid against City. Both sides suffered demotion, either as a direct or indirect result of points deductions.
And it has to be the same for City - if they are found guilty of the majority of charges.
City’s corrosive uncertainty
Therefore, what do you do as a player during this season, knowing that next year (2025-26) you could be facing the prospect of plying your trade in the Championship (or even League One, as some voices have suggested).
What about your agent, your family, your manager? And with the 2026 World Cup starting to loom large.
How do you deal with such uncertainty?
Uncertainty is corrosive. Uncertainty is debilitating. Uncertainly is an excuse to hide behind. Uncertainly is a platform for change. For exits. For departures.
Because, if Pep Guardiola steers his storied side to the Premier League at the end of this season - with all that uncertainty on a daily basis factored in, certainly when the case, actually (finally) starts, and is reported widely and loudly on a daily basis - then, for once, City will have really earned their title.
Manchester City: 115… PICTURE CREDIT:
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Arsenal make concessions
Credit where credit is due. While the majority of craven Premier League clubs have increased prices for seniors and youngsters, Arsenal have decided not to go ahead with removing senior concessions while actually increasing the number of junior and young adult concessions.
If you want the new generation - near and far - to head through the turnstiles, then you have to encourage attendance. And seniors, many of who, have given their lives to watching Arsenal, deserve the respect that comes with reduced prices after a lifetime of support. It’s simply common sense. But, given, that it’s the rapacious Premier League, common sense in decision making doesn’t always follow.
So, well done Arsenal.
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DAILY LIST
I - Gooner Fanzine work
II - Gearing up for Mikel Arteta’s Friday presser at Colney
III - Post more on Threads as the cesspit that is Twitter (I’ll never call it X) continues to implode through hate filled falsehoods (I’m @laythy29 - let’s catch up on that platform)
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PS
It was Kevin Campbell’s funeral yesterday. RIP big man
