Morning folks, how we all doing after that weekend, eh? Did the PGMOL’s ‘apology’ make everything all good in the world?

Nah, thought not.

There’s a couple of thoughts I have on this; firstly, that in some respects I think this was the right move from Howard Webb. If I’m in his shoes and there has been a couple of VAR-based blunders, you have to front up and hold your hands up as quickly as possible. Under Mike Riley’s leadership the PGMOL did nothing and the result of which was to further enrage fans because of the lack of transparency. But what also frustrates fans is when there is a lack of accountability too. Howard Webb calling Arsenal and Palace representatives to explain and also make a statement as the PGMOL that the instances this weekend will be ‘thoroughly reviewed’ is exactly what should happen. But if we’re going to truly believe that change is going to happen, then Howard Webb needs to actually show that the PGMOL is going to hold itself to account when mistakes are made. And should be in the form of Lee Mason never being allowed to be a VAR for any game ever again. Give him some kind of meaningless consulting gig for a period of time, then let him find another profession, because that’s what other people do when they are found of being negligent in their job.

It is also an opportunity for Webb. Prove that he is changing the game. Take the PR win that is staring you in the face. Let Mason be the fall guy and announce that his removal is just the start of the process. It won’t get Arsenal b

We now have the situation where – with Man City’s win yesterday – we have a three point gap and a game in hand and unfortunately that could have a massive bearing this season. The PGMOL had better hope that either Arsenal win the league or City win it by more than two points because if they do win it by such a close margin, then Arsenal will feel utterly betrayed – and rightly so – by those that enforce the law on the pitch in our game.

Injuries happen and cost teams titles. Red cards happen and cost teams titles. Form crashes and costs teams titles. But incompetence – when it is so easy to rectify and avoid – should never have happened and my hope is that we now see some proper action. Even if we can’t do anything about it for this season and the future.

The problem we now have is that Arsenal and us Arsenal fans have basically lost all confidence in the refereeing body to do it’s job and with a game coming up on Wednesday, there is a sense amongst the Arsenal fans I’ve been speaking to or following on Twitter, that we are basically shafted now. And how can we not feel like this? Lee Mason helping to chalk off a goal at Old Trafford. Lee Mason this weekend just gone. Gabriel being fouled in the box last weekend and having his shirt easily pulled at home to Newcastle. We have a catalogue of insanely poor decisions and it just lends itself to people coming up with conspiracy theories because when this stuff happens so regularly, people look for any kind of answer, regardless of how outlandish they are.

The challenge the PGMOL also have now is that there is a huge game on Wednesday night and we have Arsenal fans asking questions as Anthony Taylor from Greater Manchester takes charge of our game against City. Taylor is no doubt not a City fan, he’s refereed us many times before (and had some shockers as well as good games), but we have a situation where he will be under more scrutiny than ever before. In fact I bet he’s looked at what has happened this weekend and is now thinking “oh great. I have to referee against the backdrop of this“. Everyone will be watching him. Every decision from Arsenal fans will be jeered that doesn’t go our way. Every time a perceived injustice happens to us on Wednesday night, there will be howls of derision from us lot in the ground.

Maybe that will help. Maybe we can now put this injustice to good use. We certainly should be trying. We need to make so much noise; The Emirates needs to be an absolute cauldron on Wednesday night. Arsenal and us as fans need to come together now in the spirit of rage against the authorities and we need to bring the heat. I’ve seen people talking about how City and their fans might be galvanised by the perceived injustice of being hit with their over 100 charges situation, but Arsenal now have something to be angry about. And we just have to hope that this anger transmits on to the pitch on Wednesday evening, but is manifested not as Arsenal players going to far and potentially costing us any advantage (we have had a few red cards against them in recent years), but instead playing our best football and showing Man City that we are a proper threat on the pitch.

The players need to come together this morning and feel the sense of injustice. Internally they need to come together and talk about how they have been wronged, but externally they need to be professional, calm, approach any questions as “we can’t change anything now, we move on” and do just that. We need to see

That’ll be it from me today. We officially bring the countdown to the biggest game of the season and so the players, staff and everyone at the club needs to put all of the refereeing rage behind them – as do we – until Wednesday evening, when we let our voices be heard very loud and very clear.

P.S. if you fancy having a listen to myself, the two James’ and Amanda talk about the game and the PGMOL, we recorded a pod yesterday which you can see here.

Right, that’s me done for the day. Have a good one and I’ll catch you all tomorrow.