Arsene Wenger has criticised Stoke’s players for
deliberately trying to injure his young Gunners in The Potters’ win
on Saturday. What he failed to mention was that referees had not
been too kind to Arsenal either. Opta investigate Arsene’s
victims.
If 'The Professor' can be accused of wearing rose-tinted
spectacles at times, the Premier League referees have been
especially severe with Arsenal this season.
Despite having committed the fewest fouls since the start of the
campaign (109), Arsenal have seen yellow more often than any other
team. Indeed, The Gunners receive a yellow card every 5.45 fouls on
average.
West Brom and Manchester United can feel themselves hard done by
as well, collecting a booking less than every seventh foul.
Fulham, on the other hand, have enjoyed the most freedom,
committing 16 fouls on average between each yellow card.
The fact that The Gunners and The Red Devils are both in the top
three of the most frequently disciplined teams this season puts
paid to the theory that the big clubs are treated differently to
the rest of the league.