Ronald Koeman tries trash talk, fails

Arsenal lost yesterday. First time they’ve lost in the league since August. So of course, Arsene Wenger isn’t going to be in the happiest of moods after the game, no matter what. But, when he was asked about the corner that led to Everton’s first goal, which came off a corner that he thought might not have actually been a corner, Arsene said

“Of course it was no corner. You can see it was no corner but we have to live with the wrong decision, the referee made his decision but that does not explain why we did not head the ball. I am really disappointed in Mr Clattenburg”

For long-time Wenger watchers, this represents progress; after years of “I didn’t see it”, at least he’s watching the game, right?

Ronald Koeman, however, was having none of it, and was a very salty victor indeed when told of Wenger’s remarks:

“I am not surprised about Wenger and his comments,” the Everton manager said. “It is the third time in a row I won at home against Arsenal as a manager and three times in a row it was about the referee. I’m sorry, Arsenal – we won through the referee’s decision. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t actually see the match, so I can’t speak as to whether it should have been a corner; I guess insert that shrug emoji thing here. I do know that, even if that one play was a problem, that’s not why Arsenal lost. But wait! So does Arsene!

We have to look at ourselves,” he said. “We lost the game. We started well and after that lost a bit of urgency. We were maybe a bit too comfortable and Everton made it very physical. I believe they disturbed our game and we created less.

All kidding aside, though, Arsenal didn’t play well enough to win, Clattenburg or no; I just found it funny that Ronald Koeman, the guy who manages clubs to two years of mediocrity then moves on to guide his new teams to two years of mediocrity, thinks he’ll win a war of words with Arsene Wenger.