Did you know…
Did you know what the above images really had in common?
On both occasions Arsenal surrendered a seemingly unassailable lead. Yes.
On both occasions three points seemed well in the bag as early as by half-time. Yes.
But also, on both occasions Phil Dowd was the referee.
Yes, Phil was the man in charge during that 2-3 loss to Tottenham back in Novermber. He also was the man who chose to award Spurs that penalty (for Fabregas’ unwitting handball) which encouraged their comeback.
Review what he did today and decide whether there is a trend here.
Very rarely do I make any remarks over referee decisions in the aftermath of games because it is a waste of time to dwell on something so irreversible, and it also can be seen as simple excuses or just picking a scapegoat for a disappointing result, but today’s circumstances begged for a little perspective on how questionable some referees’ rulings can be.
All this talk will not prompt the FA to replay our fixture with Newcastle or hand Arsenal all three points for Saturday’s show, but when something happens twice in such sickening and suspicious fashion, you can only fume.
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Unless I’m mistaken, Phil Dowd was also the referee away at Sunderland when they equalised 17 seconds after injury time had elapsed.
More n more i have a feeling he doesnt like arsenal or has a personal grudge against us!!!..N da performance today by him increases the stand..Maybe NUFC used the 36mil from andy carroll to pay him!
one good thing to come out of this, that idiot diaby is suspended for three games. the twattttt
joe, what’s your last name? Barton??
He was playing well before being sent off…..
If he was there in the midfield we would have won the game 6-0…..
Diaby getting sent off wasn’t the turning point.
It was clearly Djourou being forced off for Squillaci.
so phil dowd is a cheat, what dose his parents think of him, not much i expect. nice 1 red for pointing out the coincidences. lets hope he dose the honorable thing, will he be missed NO
Face facts, Phil Dowd is a fat yid C**T!
Phil Dowd is a horrible huiman being and a cheat.
There are a few explanations for Dowd’s conduct.
1. He has an offshore account that receives gratuitous contributions from anonymous employers on a regular basis.
2. He was sexually abused as a child by an uncle who supports Arsenal.
3. He had received special advice by the RA prior to the match.
4. He wanted to create something significant in his otherwise miserable life that he can tell his grandkids someday.
5. He is currently engaged in a coital relationship with a Red nosed Scot.
6. A close friend-of-a-friend of his makes a tidy sum off William Hill every week.
7. Cesc had refused to exchange jersey with him after a match awhile ago, after he was spotted sniffing around players’ used attire in the dressing room.
8. He is genuinely incompetent & the heinous decisions against us are purely coincidental.
We, of all clubs, can’t moan about referees. How many penalties have we had this season?
This result isn’t a disaster. We’ll still finish in the top four.
yes hes a cheat for disallowing Leon Bests perfectly legitimate goal
Does should get shafted by a dead dogs dick.
Re above: predictive text and ten pints don’t go well!
Gentlemen and ladies………the fault lies not with the official, although he smelt like a dead fish today but with the indiscipline, lack of focus, carelessness and immaturity of the Arsenal! Any team that has a 4 goal lead and lets it slip away, whether home or away, has a serious problem. Two penalties make it 4-2, and 10 men against a highly driven team make it even harder but if the Gunners hope to win the EPL, stay in the CL and win something this year they’ll have to display far more professionalism and intelligence than they did in the 2nd half. United lost for the first time and we had the opportunity to catch them but we are now in a 5 horse race again thanks to our inability to hold onto a formidable lead!
The referee helped Newcastle but he didn’t score any goals so stop complaining about him and focus on where it is really an issue; Arsenal’s game control issues!
Blame the ref…really. grow up, accept responsibility and stop hiding behind excuses like wenger. We…Arsenal lost the game. Players should know how to close the game out when 4-0 up. Even if they scored a goal or two, we should have done better. But we panicked and mentally grew weaker, before caving in. Not the first time its happened, so I don’t blame the ref.
To my opinoin we shud av done beta,get focus n stay in d game bt it over now,n as 4d refree if he wud b at d wembley final den we shud xpect noting but miracle to hand us our trophy,
I agree many of his decisions were questionable at best. At first they might just look like act of sympathy or trying to keep the game interesting — none of those justifies his duty and obligation of course.
But to be fair, Diabi did get himself sent off. Sure Had Barton been sent off as he deserved, he wouldn’t have had to take the matter to his own hand. But come on be professional, keep your head leveled, and think about the team and the fan.
I have to say though, with all those unfortunate factors, we still shouldn’t have conceded four goals to second class team. It’s not the end of the world though. We actually get closer to MU by a point. Keep performing like the first half and learn from the mistake from the second, even 10 rogue referees like Dowd or 20 disgusting low lifes like Barton couldn’t stop us.
Guys lets be rational here,yes there is something definatly worth lookin into concerning Ref Dowd & his grudge against arsenal,he is as rotten as they come in the epl,and that is where i will put his issue,but lets face the facts,notwitstanding what phil did or barton too,which we all know deserved a red too,Diaby is one stupid son of a ****, cuz only him single handedly cost us 2points,and i will leave that there,after castle’s 2nd goal,i expected Fabregas to control his team,hold the ball,pass and cool the game down,but instead he panicked like the whole squad did and we capitulated under presure,making silly mistakes and all,and lost a ”WHOLE 4GOAL LEAD”.It was unbelievable..Can anyone name any of the other top teams that can succumb to that… I cant.So lets throw the blame around,and in the midst of the throwing,give some to wenger who stubbornly refused to buy any player,Jhorou is injured now,and incase no one has noticed,the pairing of Squil and Koscil is always a disaster.This might just signal the beginning of our downfall,but i honestly and sincerely hope not.I do hope the boys rediscover a fighting spirit,to go the extra mile and redeem themselves,because this league has always being ours for the taking,but some external forces and our occasional ineptitude hinders us(not to forget our increasing injuries)
THE SECOND PENALTY WAS THE WORST DECISION IVE EVER SEEN. THE SOFTEST PENALTY EVER AWARDED. **** YOU PHIL.