English Premier League: Arsene Wenger praises English linesmen
Wenger has become one of the few managers in the world who has taken the step of appreciating the under fire English referee’s and their linesmen. English football has seen a very low standard of quality in refereeing recently but
Arsene, who originally hails from France has spoken in favour of English officials recently. Arsene’s team Arsenal participated in the Carling Cup knock out fixtures in mid-week lately as they overpowered a quality Newcastle side to book their place in the
quarter finals of the competition whose final is held in spring of 2011.
Arsenal were joined by heavy weights such as Manchester United in the last eight teams of the Carling Cup tournament, which was won last time around by no one other than Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United as they defeated Aston
Villa in the final match at Wembley Stadium. Wenger’s team benefited from a close off-side decision at the weekend as Arsenal won by four goals to nil against Chris Hughton’s Newcastle United.
Previously on the last league weekend, Fulham F.C and Everton also benefitted from different interpretations of the modern offside rule which has made life difficult for linesmen and referees all across the globe. The modern rule
has definitely made it harder for linesmen to understand the situation as it was simpler in older days when a player was “just ruled offside” if he was ahead of the oppositions back four defensive line when the ball was played to him. Now the referee’s have
to take into account his “active participation” in play before making the offside call, something that has caused both controversy and complication for the linesmen.
Arsenal manager said in his interview on Friday, the 29th of October, "It was easier for the referee certainly, but I must say to their credit the linesmen have improved tremendously in England to judge the offside, I see
many games in Europe and I think they get it right in England more than anywhere else."
Wenger continued by adding, “It is very difficult to interpret because you are offside if one part of the body you can score with is offside and that's not always very easy to see. Sometimes it is the second part of the action, when
the guy can take part of his initial offside position away and that looks a little unjust. The rule is you judge the situation when the ball is played so that means phase two is again phase one because you judge again when the ball is played - so phase two
does basically not exist.”
The Frenchman also stated, "That is why sometimes you can feel that a guy takes advantage of his offside position. The only thing sometimes I am not happy with is that if a guy who is central is 10 yards offside and he scores a goal
from a first touch after a cross from the wing, you should maybe consider that is a bit unfair." Wenger also spoke about his team’s goal against Newcastle in their mid-week match in the Carling Cup as he said that, “In Nicklas Bendtner's case, I have watched
the collision again and it looks to be a little accidental that he collided with the central defender. But anyway, Walcott was way in front of the defender - there is maybe one player in this league who is way in front of you and you won’t catch him, and it
is Walcott."
Arsenal next host West Ham United in the English Premier League on Saturday, 30th of October 2010 in their 10th league match of the season. Arsenal are currently 2nd in the Premier League table at
the moment but a loss in the London derby against the Hammers bring them down from their second place spot in the league rankings.
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