William Saliba saw red – despite the on-field decision being a yellow card

THE old phrase goes that it’s better to be talked about, than not talked about at all.

Don’t worry, then, if people are whispering things at the office kettle like “he’s a megalomaniac”, “he smells of coffee”, “he thinks he’s funnier than he is” and “he types too loudly on his keyboard”.

This, I’ve recited to myself many times, is all better than not being remembered at all.

It’s certainly the approach being taken by the Premier League referees on the pitch and in the VAR room this season – all of whom can’t bear us talking about great games of football without some sort of discussion about something they did.

This is the referee economy we are witnessing, where each of them must gain the chance to become well known enough to one day umpire Gladiators and appear in betting adverts (Mark Clattenburg and Mike Dean) or appear as the new Sky Sports soccer pundits (Dermot Gallagher and Mike Dean again).

And how are you going to get a well-paid consultants’ job when the knees pack up if nobody remembers you refereed lots of Premier League matches because you kept things too simple, made normal decisions and let the talking points be provided by the players’ talents.

Every club has been the victim of this circus show, so Arsenal do not have a special case to plead – but it has certainly hit the Gunners hard at the start of this season.

There will be lots of talk about a lack of discipline but Arsenal have accumulated three of the softest red cards you will see. Firstly, Declan Rice gets sent off after being horribly kicked by a Brighton defender before getting to his feet and being told to leave the pitch for nudging the ball slightly. This happens in every match without punishment. Then, Leandro Trossard was sent off, again for kicking the ball away without any real intent to delay the match. Earlier in the same game, a Manchester City player had done much the same.

And on Saturday, William Saliba sees red despite the on field decision being a yellow card. It wasn’t a clear and obvious error that needed a check, but then there’s no place on a Blankety Blank panel in 2035 for refs that haven’t stirred enough drama. Evanilson was miles from goal and hadn’t even controlled the ball when he was fouled.

It will all be digested as Arsenal moaning, but it has and will happen to your team too – and at the end of the season you’ll also be moaning that Manchester City have won the league again.