Arsenal's penalty last night

[Simster]

Would you have given it?

Personally I think it was a pen. Puyol deliberately ran behind Fabregas and into him, instead of trying to clear the ball. I'm even quite pleased he got sent off for it, as he was blatently trying to make his cheating look like an innocent mistake.

 

[The Goon]

It was less of a penalty than dickinsons at Orient

 

[strings]

My first instinct was that it was a penalty. The replays did nothing to change my mind.

 

[Mendoza]

I think the ref got it spot on. If it was a Brighton player we would have been screaming for it. Just because its Arsenal it doesnt mean it wasnt.

 

[The Goon]

It was less of a penalty than dickinsons at Orient

So, with that, I'm ooooout

 

[Simster]

I think the ref got it spot on. If it was a Brighton player we would have been screaming for it. Just because its Arsenal it doesnt mean it wasnt.

Obviously the tedious NSC Spurs bloc thought otherwise, as did NSC's resident supporter of the world's most pretentious club, Frutos.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Never a foul in a million years. Fabregas put his leg between Puyol's and then kicked him.

Certainly not a sending off.

 

[Marshy]

Never a foul in a million years. Fabregas put his leg between Puyol's and then kicked him.

Certainly not a sending off.

He didnt put his leg there, Puyol put his there and stopped Fabregas shooting.

A definate sending off. Denied a goal scoring opportunity.
About as nailed on a pen as it gets in my book.

 

[dingobruce]

Fabregas reckons the challenge fractured his fibula. After taking the penalty he said he felt it get worse and could hardly walk on it...

"I fear the worst, which is that I have broken something," said the midfielder, who limped off after his late penalty.

"It is the fibula. I think I put my leg between (Carles) Puyol's when I was fouled, and kicked it.

"When I took the penalty, I was quite strong, but after when I went to get the ball, I could not walk any more."

 

[Icy Gull]

Definite pen, you'd have to be an Arsenal hater, contentious twat or a Barca fan to think otherwise.

 

[Father Jack]

i think once you give the penalty you deem the challenge a foul, because it was deemed a foul Puyol had to go as he was last man and denied a goalscoring opportunity. Was it a foul? in real time yes, on the replay 50/50 seen some given seen some not given.

 

[Rookie]

As a Barca fan I thought it was a penalty, Puyol knew what he was doing

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Definite penalty. It looked a penalty at the time and the replays confirmed it. I was amazed when the commentator said it was disputed (or controversial or whatever).

Puyol was just upset he's been found out.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Think some people on here will struggle to fuel their anti-Arsenal agendas with this one, penalty for me.

 

[sten_super]

Definite penalty, clear intent by Puyol. And as Father Jack says, once it's a foul he has to go.

 

[Rusthall Seagull]

Never a foul in a million years. Fabregas put his leg between Puyol's and then kicked him.

Certainly not a sending off.

I take it this is an April fool ?

 

[ATFC Seagull]

I have no anti-Arsenal agenda and the minute that c*nt Henry appears I have nothing but contempt for Barca. However, not a pen in my book. Puyol doesn't kick out or play Fabregas, he just gets his body in the way, which provided he is within playing distance he can do - it is a contact sport. Very deliberate I agree but not sure how against the rules it really is - if Fabregas isn't too far committed to swinging at the ball, it would have just looked like any other incident where a player turns and shields the ball away.

 

[Easy 10]

I have no anti-Arsenal agenda and the minute that c*nt Henry appears I have nothing but contempt for Barca. However, not a pen in my book. Puyol doesn't kick out or play Fabregas, he just gets his body in the way, which provided he is within playing distance he can do - it is a contact sport. Very deliberate I agree but not sure how against the rules it really is - if Fabregas isn't too far committed to swinging at the ball, it would have just looked like any other incident where a player turns and shields the ball away.

Disagree. Puyol knew exactly what he was doing - just because he didn't go to ground or take his legs out, he was all over the back of Febregas with NO chance of winning the ball. How could he get his body in the way of Fabregas when he was BEHIND him ?

I was pleased to see that pen given, because most of the time defenders get away with challenges like that. He wasn't challenging for the ball at all, he just jostled Fabregas from behind to make sure he couldn't shoot.

Foul.
Penalty.

 

[keaton]

I thought it was a penalty and he had to be sent off as it was a goalscoring opportunity, but it's a silly rule. Unless it's deliberate(which I don't think it was) you shouldn't be sent off as well

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Disagree. Puyol knew exactly what he was doing - just because he didn't go to ground or take his legs out, he was all over the back of Febregas with NO chance of winning the ball. How could he get his body in the way of Fabregas when he was BEHIND him ?
.

Might have to have another look and then get back to you. Only saw it in the pub last night and I thought he was in front/next to him as Fabregas opened up to shoot.