It wasn’t a penalty; the referee played too much injury time. The grass was too long. The more the Frenchman looks for excuses the more he indulges the weak character of this Arsenal side.

Whisper it, but is the reign of Arsene coming to an end? It is a question maybe Stan Kroneke is pondering.

More red mist for Scholes

It was a typical Scholes challenge. Rash, reckless and just a little stupid. The six studs of the Man United man raked down Pablo Zabeleta’s thigh to end any chance of a comeback and send Man City into the FA Cup final.

Scholes has been the most technically accomplished English midfielder of the last 25 years. The sight of him marooned on the left wing for England during Euro 2004 will forever be a black mark against them.  Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have been fine, lung-bursting goalscorers but Scholes kept the ball better than anyone.

The ease in which Yaya Toure brushed passed him on Saturday must have been hard to take for such a proud figure. Where once Scholes would drop his shoulder and ping a pass, here he was rushed into a mistake.

Maybe that was the reason for his ridiculous challenge. Raging against the dying of the light.

Or maybe it was just a typical Paul Scholes tackle.

New order in Germany may not last long

Champions elect Borussia Dortmund have one hand firmly gripped on the Bundesliga title after a comprehensive win over Freiburg.

It is a championship forged from a mean defence,  incisive football and a willingness to attack. Coach Jorgen Klopp joins Andre Villas Boas of Porto as the bright young managerial things in Europe.

The age profile of the Dortmund squad suggests they will be around for years to come. The likes of Mario Goatzee and the sublime Nuri Sahin are in their early twenties and if Dortmund can keep the nucleus of this team than more titles may come.

Beware of the old guard however. Bayern Munich have dismissed an under-performing manager and have made inroads in their transfer targets for next year with Schalke’s Manuel Neuer and Benfica’s Fabio Contreao believed to be on the verge of signing.

Seeing Dortmund lift the title will cut deep in Bavaria. The Bundesliga will be the true winner when they duel next year.

Tony Pulis and Stoke. Yea or Nay?

Where do you stand? Are Stoke a committed, smart side that play to their strengths. Or are they an ugly brute, incapable of passing the ball and belong in the dark ages.

One could presume that Eidur Gudjohson is in the latter camp. Eyebrows were raised when the silky former Chelsea man ended up in the Potteries. His subsequent lack of games and lightening transfer out would suggest his brand of football didn’t quite fit in with Tony Pulis.

The same could be said about Tuncay. The elegant Turk is rarely used at the Britannica. If he was four inches taller maybe he would.

Pulis has brought Stoke up, stabilized them and now brought them to a cup final. There can be no questioning the end; only the method.

Weekend cult hero. Antonio Cassano

They do have them in Italy. Francesco Totti kicked off the Watercooler’s cult hero section last week. This week, because I can’t get enough of temperamental Italians, it is the turn of Cassano.

Italy’s enfant terrible scored in Milan’s 3-0 over Sampdoria to seal their place on top of Serie A.

Sampdoria are one of Cassano’s former clubs. Of which there are many. Just as lazy follows Dimitar Berbatov, short fuse does Cassano.

He is one of the only footballers to have a word coined in his honour. Fabio Capello came up with Cassanata in 2002, it is used to describe behaviour that does not help with team spirit.

So yes he is moody, a little crazy but a little genius. Here is his best completion. Describe that Fabio. In English please.