Troy Deeney: There is NO conspiracy against Arsenal – their red cards have been stupid and petulant… it’s worrying

ARSENAL’S red-card run has me worried — but not for why you might think.

If the likes of Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba had been sent off for violent conduct, aggressive behaviour or arguing with refs, I could understand.

These things happen, move on.

But in Arsenal’s case, none of them were for tackles. They were simply for petulant, lazy and stupid actions — things that manager Mikel Arteta cannot account for.

In all fairness, Rice’s red against Brighton for kicking the ball away was mental. The ref handled that badly.

But Trossard’s against Manchester City was incredibly petulant.

And with Saliba’s at Bournemouth, he has got credit for reacting to a poor pass — ironically from Trossard — but I would have backed him to get back and for David Raya to save it.

It is something that keeps happening.

My other concern is the Arsenal players are starting to feel there is an agenda against them from the Prem refs — which there is NOT.

I have seen it in dressing rooms — you can find an excuse if you are looking for it. As players, it is never our fault.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

And if you are hearing it on social media and begin talking about it then it will seep in.

I am also worried that when these red cards have been given, I haven’t seen or heard of anyone screaming or shouting, pointing fingers.  That’s maybe a sign of the times.

I was sent off five times in my professional career and every time in the dressing room after the games, I’ve got hammered for letting the team down.

I have experienced all of the emotions. Sometimes you feel hard-done-by and there is an element of smashing the dressing room up because you are angry, and sometimes I felt like a kid again getting told off by my parents — there is so much shame.

I don’t sense that has happened at Arsenal; more: “Unlucky, mate. Better luck next time.”

Arsenal players are starting to feel there is an agenda against them from the Prem refs — which there is NOT.

Troy Deeney

You need accountability, you need players to show their frustration.
When Saliba was sent off and the team then lost 2-0, I would expect someone to at least ask: “Why did you do that?”

You are supposed to have conflict. You are allowed to hold people to a high standard.

Arsenal have obviously been doing that to get to the position they are at, challenging for the title.

But in these situations, if they are going into games without their best players — especially an avoidable one in Saliba — then that should rightly boil over behind the scenes.

And do not underestimate the toll it takes on you playing with ten men on several occasions in quick succession.

It is almost impossible physically to pull it off just once, let alone three times, as well as the psychological damage of not having the ball.

When that is the case, it becomes a long, hard slog.

You can still see what that draw at Man City did to them — it is still in their legs, in their heads.

Drawing 2-2 so late on. You’ve played for so long with ten men, defended so well, contained them, and then someone scores and the whole emotion leaves your body.

City now have an effect on Arsenal whereby if they are not six or seven points ahead going into the last ten games of a season, they know they will be caught.

At the start of this campaign, they put a lot of pressure on themselves — maybe too much.

Bukayo Saka came out and said: “This is our year, we can do it.” I liked it.

I don’t see Arsenal getting a result but, for their sakes, I hope they do.

Troy Deeney

But with great expectation comes great responsibility and I don’t remember a game this season where they have looked like the Arsenal of the previous two years.

They have looked clunky and looked like they are forcing things.

And they are now in a position already this season where they have to go out and attack and win games, like against Liverpool on Sunday.

I don’t see Arsenal getting a result but, for their sakes, I hope they do. And as a neutral fan, I don’t want them to be done. Seven points adrift is huge.

So Arsenal have to deliver. And I am beginning to think of the question: When is Arteta under pressure?

Maybe if they drift away from the title race by Christmas?

It is a harsh question given what he has done for the club but you have to deliver at some point.