Before I start this blog, I just want to clarify, a referee is not the reason you do not win the game. You should be winning games based on your own ability. But referees can contribute if they make errors that led directly to goals either being scored or disallowed.

Arsene Wenger complained recently about the standard of referring had declined in the Premier League this season.

Had he actually aired his true complaint, that Arsenal have been on the end of some match changing decision, he would have been shot down for finding excuses in to why his team did not win. But the fact is this season, in every game we have dropped points bar the Liverpool & Chelsea games, we have had poor referring decisions go against us at key times.

Stoke 1 – 0 Arsenal

With 18 minutes remaining, Alexandre Lacazette latched onto Olivier Giroud’s flick and lashed an instant left-footed volley past Jack Butland. The goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

Hactor Bellerin was also denied a penalty when he was blatently fouled in the box.

Watford 2 – 1 Arsenal

1-0 up and cruising, Brazilian midfielder Richarlison dives for a penalty. Given. Goal. 1-1

In the build up to the winner, Troy Deeney was in an offside position and active in the play.

Manchester City – 2 – 1 Arsenal

Arsenal had just got a goal back and were on top, pressing for an equaliser. Both Gabriel Jesus and David Silva were offside for the third goal

Arsenal 1 – 3 Manchester United

At 3-1, Arsenal were 2 stonewall penalties against 10 man Manchester United.

The first was Danny Welbeck was caught by the sliding Chris Smalling in the box but Andre Marriner waved away the Arsenal appeals for a penalty. The second when Matteo Darmian bought down Welbeck, in the area.

Southampton 1 – 1 Arsenal

Alexandre Lacazette was wiped out during the 1-1 draw at Southampton. The score was 1-0 to Southampton at the time.

West Ham 0 – 0 Arsenal

A 0-0 draw could have been lit up be a brilliant piece of acrobatic skill by Olivier Giroud. Instead of the ball hitting the back of the net, it was stopped by the hand of Aaron Cresswell.

Now I am not complaining as these incidents happen, and we should be beating the likes of Stoke, Watford and West Ham without them. But they were all key incidents at important times of the game.

I also agree that in the game against WBA, the Baggies should have had a penalty.

It is not just these decisions went against us causing us to love the game, it is also the butterfly effect that they create.

Had the referee got the decisions right against Stoke and Watford, we would have gone into the Manchester City trip with a record of 1 defeat in the opening 10 games. The mentality of the side would have been much more positive.

Had the right decisions been given in our last 3 games – Man U, Southampton & West Ham, as well as that Watford game – we would be seeing us having won 1 of the last12.

The negative spiral the club is currently in, the anger of the fans, would have not been created if referees only got the decisions right.

People will say it evens itself out, but it simply does not. Arsenal are losing points due to referring decisions.

KeenosFollow @KeenosAFC