Of the current 18 Premiership referees seven came up through Lancashire, Cheshire and Manchester football, and four through Yorkshire. The remaining seven come from Birmingham (2), Wiltshire (2), and one each from Northumberland, Leicestershire and Berkshire/Bucks. So, not one of them came up through the London FA or the adjoining county FAs, and not one was born in or very near to London - Graham Scott of Oxford being the closest. A remarkably unbalanced state of affairs in the running of the game.

Even assuming they do their best to exercise professional judgement in as honest a way as possible, refs are only too human, and will surely have from their backgrounds personal likes and dislikes of certain football clubs, probably developed in childhood? We all know how London is not beloved by people from the midlands and north, so it is quite possible there is some institutional bias against the capital's teams. When you consider the age of most of the Premiership men in black, Arsenal was the predominant London team in their formative years, so it is feasible our club attracts a disproportionate level of wrong decisions, even compared to other London sides. In years to come Chelsea may have that honour!

Taylor shocks the comms yet again. Gives a red for a trip when it should have been a yellow.

Why always him?

47 degrees C here today. A record temperature ...

He didn't shock the comms against Chelsea though. Everybody in the studio felt it was OK to award a penalty including the notoriously anti-Arsenal Thierry Henry. As did Dermot Gallagher (Irish so hates all English clubs equally) with the benefit of several slo-mo replays. As did the commentators for the Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian...

It wasn't that long ago you were going to do your centennial flounce. Why don't you sod off and support another team or chat on their forum.

Back to Arsenal matters......................

Papers say we are close to signing Jonny Evans for 25 million. I know we are desperate for defensive reinforcements but that doesn't seem very forward thinking signing given he's 30 and hasn't set the world alight. It's probably arsene trying to wind up that new scout.

Oh did you see the comments Arsene made about that new Sven bloke By the way? He didn't come across as bitter at all did he. Pretty much said the appointment was needless as we know all the players in Europe anyway.

Harsh when I’ve learned so much from you like Schrodinger’s Hazard which can be simultaneously seen and not seen by refs.

In the movie after this cute meet they’d learn to love each other and lead us to glory overcoming hurdles like northern refs on their incredible journey.

If you can't understand that, in that situation, the dramatic collapse to the floor would obscure whether the kick was soft or not, even if he did see it, then more fool you.

You hate AW, you apparently hate the Arsenal, why do you come on here?

Craig Joubert...a Saffer in love with NZ ...

If you can't understand that, in that situation, the dramatic collapse to the floor would obscure whether the kick was soft or not, even if he did see it, then more fool you.

You hate AW, you apparently hate the Arsenal, why do you come on here?

47 degrees C here today. A record temperature ...

Hope he signs a new contract with us soon. Think he can do the Cazorla role well but won't be too bad at the Özil role either.

Anyway amid all the farcical bias against us from northern refs envious of our southern ways (they're only human) perfectly placed to see a player falling over but not the kick that preceded it, it falls upon me to try and restore a touch of levity by pointing out that Notts County have a right-back endearingly named Tootles. It made me laugh a lot especially as he was their Number 2. My son didn't think it was as funny as I did and kept saying "oh shut up, dad" whenever I shouted "played Tootles!". He can be disappointingly dour and disapproving at times - I get enough of that on here.

Looking forward to the game this afternoon - it's tempting to support the underdogs but FA cup wins are just so last season - I'll be cheering for Forest.

Tootles for now!

Regarding Hoy's point about no refs coming from London, whiich I accept looks odd, I'd say this regarding his idea this may go against Arsenal's best interests.

I'd have thought the two sets of supporters most anti-Arsenal were Tottenham and Chelsea fans. Not having any referees from London surely decreases the chances of getting Tottenham or Chelsea fans refereeing Arsenal games. I'd have thought anyway. In the long distant days when we used to compete for the title with Manchester United or Liverpool, I wouldn't have wanted fans of those clubs refereeing our games. But with those past exceptions, I'd much rather fans of north-east and yorkshire clubs, or north west teams at the moment taking charge of Arsenal's matches than Tottenham or Chelsea supporters.

Perhaps Tootles could join my fledgling Drugs XI - so far I've only signed Bong from Brighton.

Perhaps Tootles could join my fledgling Drugs XI - so far I've only signed Bong from Brighton.

I used to sit near Halsey's brother in the Clock End at Highbury. Apparently Mark Halsey is a Chelsea fan. Heard that he was anxious NOT to appear biased which is understandable

Stashley Cole? Kaspar Smackal?

Forgetting penalties, how often have we been bullied at home, bad tackles, roughed up and then had wenger complain about it after? Very rare.

Anyway amid all the farcical bias against us from northern refs envious of our southern ways (they're only human) perfectly placed to see a player falling over but not the kick that preceded it, it falls upon me to try and restore a touch of levity by pointing out that Notts County have a right-back endearingly named Tootles. It made me laugh a lot especially as he was their Number 2. My son didn't think it was as funny as I did and kept saying "oh shut up, dad" whenever I shouted "played Tootles!". He can be disappointingly dour and disapproving at times - I get enough of that on here.

Looking forward to the game this afternoon - it's tempting to support the underdogs but FA cup wins are just so last season - I'll be cheering for Forest.

Tootles for now!