Published: 02:00, 28 March 2026 | Updated: 02:00, 28 March 2026

'Never thought in my life I'd find myself saying this,' muses George Graham as we sit down for lunch.

'Never crossed my mind I would admit feeling truly sorry for the referees. But the way the Premier League is going, their job's become impossible.'

No prizes, folks, for guessing where this conversation is going.

We had just watched Arsenal fail to muscle any of their corners or free-kicks into goals and consequently lose the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City.

There could be no escaping the raging debate about the legality of what is euphemistically called the 'physicality' of the unarmed combat which more and more of the leading clubs are applying to set-pieces.

George still loves the Arsenal, with whom he reached the twin peaks of his career. First as player, then manager. So he refrains from lasering the focus on to Mikel Arteta and his macho team for mastering the dark arts.

George Graham's affection for Arsenal, where he flourished as both a player and manager, is undimmed. But he...