I still find it quite astonishing that the Bolton challenges over the weekend were utterly swept under the carpet from the MOTD crew. Not a thuggish highlight in sight. I refuse to believe that it is just coincidence. If Arsenal players were behaving in the same vein you can be sure that it would have been Saturday night’s hot topic

A good afternoon to you all,

This is a quick stop before all change at the Emirates this evening for the Sporting Braga game. Gotta fill my stomach of food, dress in my Arsenal colours and set off to support, encourage and hopefully be entertained.

I still find it quite astonishing that the Bolton challenges over the weekend were utterly swept under the carpet from the MOTD crew. Not a thuggish highlight in sight. I refuse to believe that it is just coincidence. If Arsenal players were behaving in the same vein you can be sure that it would have been Saturday night’s hot topic.

I am glad that Arsene Wenger is speaking out about the bad challenges. I am not just being protective of our club and players, it is the Premier league on the whole. Karl Henry has been swanning about leaving his studs into all and sundry. I didn’t know the fella until we played them at the Emirates and I was furious about his challenge on Theo Walcott. You can see the slow motion replay of that ‘tackle’ in the old Match Review

Behavour like that should result in an automatic red card. If the red card is not given then it should be looked at afterwards and then retrospective bans should be dished out. It is all very simple, the more these thugs are punished, the more chance we have of preventing injuries. It has been said that it will take a bad injury from a reckless challenge on an England international before something is done but surely the powers that be, are aware of that risk already.

Football is a physical game, played at the top level by athletes in top physical condition (Tom Huddlestone aside) but it needn’t be a violent game. Giving someone the same red card and suspension for slapping an opposition player in the face or even pushing someone compared to over the feet lunges is plain wrong.

Anyway, let us hope that enough awareness has been raised. It was great to read Matt Law of the express making other fans aware on Twitter this morning, the more this is condemned then the quicker we can get on with fair and enjoyable football. It is much more productive than the laughing and giggling about Henry going around trying to damage Joey Barton.

Now that I have had my moan, I shall be off to get myself in gear but before I do, I thought of an interesting little experiment. I have got an application on my mobile phone that allows direct streaming from phone to a embedded video. Those from afar who cannot get to the game and perhaps wonder what the atmosphere is like around the ground before kick off may be interested in watching a direct stream from the site. Obviously I shall not be standing filming the game as I don’t want to be thrown out and also don’t want to have achy arms but I shall try and capture some of the action at kick off.

I have no idea what it will be like so do not expect Steven Spielberg camera work from my mobile.

If you are interested then check out the Match Preview page around kick off time. I better make sure I don’t forget to do it now that I have posted this.

Don’t forget that it is not this page but the Braga (h) Match Thoughts & Predictions: Balanced Gunners need victory article which can be found on the home page.

Enjoy the game,

Back tomorrow.