sluggo said:

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Cal88 said:

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🚨 Arsenal players wanted to use some negative football tactics against PSG but got outsmarted by Luis Enrique's genius. Look at how Raya, Gabriel and Rice wasted energy trying to intimidate Vitinha and then Dembele coldly came out of nowhere to break Arsenal fans' hearts 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/yfkFg1w8UI

— Dex (@DexxterUtd) June 3, 2026

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This behavior on both sides is totally standard by every team now. An offensive player grabs the ball during the chaos period when the defensive team is giving the offensive team the business. When the ref clears out the defensive team the ball holder gives the ball to someone else who takes the penalty. You can hate Arsenal for other reasons, but not for this.

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FYI I don't dislike Arsenal, and actually used to root for them during the Wenger era when they had several French players. I do also understand that other teams engage in "gamesmanship", but it seems that Arsenal has been pushing the envelop a bit further, and getting a lot of grief for that from neutrals :

From the Irish Times. Totally agree with their analysis of Arsenal as polluters and selfishly wasting everyone’s time.

Cheating and acting masquerading as tactics and culture. Sadly, the PL referees allowed it so it became a successful weapon for them. pic.twitter.com/hCxQF5c6ZJ

— Parted Beard (@PartedBeard) June 1, 2026

🚨 Yellow Cards for Time Wasting This Season 👀

Arsenal — 11
Aston Villa — 8
Newcastle — 8
Chelsea — 7
Everton — 7
Sunderland — 6
Bournemouth — 6
Fulham — 6
West Ham — 5
Brentford — 5
Crystal Palace — 4
Wolves — 4
Nottingham Forest — 3
Tottenham — 3
Leeds United — 3
Burnley — 2… https://t.co/4a1j4CgZAB pic.twitter.com/TtLXNUFUlG

— Nuel (@LfcNuel) May 28, 2026

Arsenal cheating tactics:
Arteta not just coaching the cheating tactics he plays his part too! pic.twitter.com/XVxBgaPWsi

— M (@michaelc1961) June 3, 2026

I hate all the gamesmanship, too. I particularly hate the flopping and staying on the ground. But the narrative that Arsenal is somehow different than any other team does not hold water, IMO.

Fair enough Sluggo .

A couple of shoc kers today in Europe, France lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast, Spain tied Iraq 1-1...

Wasn't someone smart saying that anything can happen in a low scoring game such as soccer?
I hope Big C was reading.

Your complaints about time wasting is valid but wrongfully directed.
Don't blame arsenal.
Go after the rule makers

Cal88 said:

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On this day in 1997, Roberto Carlos scored one of the greatest free-kick of all time! pic.twitter.com/2VS9zr7qJB

— 90s Football (@90sfootball) June 3, 2026

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It's official.
I'm old.

…I remember that.

concordtom said:

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Wasn't someone smart saying that anything can happen in a low scoring game such as soccer?
I hope Big C was reading.

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This was a factor that blocked the advancement of my soccer fandom way back around the turn of the century: the game is tied or only one goal separates the two teams. Then, it's decided by a penalty kick on a some call that might well be bogus.

A few really good matches this time might bring me around (with you guys' help, of course).

Cal88 said:

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Cape Verde’s national football team has arrived in the US ahead to take part in their first ever FIFA World Cup. Players filmed themselves dancing in the aisle of the plane and were cheered on the tarmac. pic.twitter.com/wXOrR3qYY6

— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) June 3, 2026

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Cape Verde Island was a stopping point for mariners of yesteryear. They stocked up supplies before crossing the Atlantic for South America.

My ggggg great grandfather captained a ship from Nantucket in the 1790's. Elephant seal hunters.
They stopped at CVI.