Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits he doesn't understand new Premier League rule
Arsenal will be out to make it three Premier League wins from three against Fulham on Saturday afternoon although they'll kick off with boss Mikel Arteta still unsure over the rules.
The Spaniard saw his side battle to a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Monday night, courtesy of Martin Odegaard's second half penalty. But only after the Gunners were left hanging on after a red card to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The Japanese left-back was booked twice in a matter of minutes at Selhurst Park, initially seeing yellow for appearing to delay taking a throw-in. The incident signified another flashpoint since Premier League officials began their stringent clampdown on time-wasting.
Moments later the 24-year-old was harshly carded again, for what appeared a small tug on the shirt of Jordan Ayew. And after the victory, Arteta sarcastically suggested that few games in the 2023/24 campaign would finish with XI v XI.
"It's going to be very difficult for us [managers], I guarantee you we will be playing with 10, or nine or even eight," he ranted. "Because depending on where we put the standards we will have eight vs eight. It will be very entertaining."
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Thus far, six red cards have been dished out in the top flight, despite the season only being two weeks old. And there appears growing discontent among managers over the new regulations.
Sure enough, in his Friday pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Marco Silva and co, Arteta was again asked about the Tomiyasu dismissal. And it was his player's first caution for time-wasting that he honed in on.
Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off against Crystal Palace (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Are Premier League officials right to clamp down on time-wasting? Comment below.
"It's quite a lot of things we have to manage," he argued. "Because what about if a winger picks up the ball because he wants to play fast and then he can't, but then you decide to play a long throw so you need the opposite full-back to come across the pitch, get the towel and throw it. Can we do that? I don't know."
Referees have been urged to ensure the ball spends more time in play during Premier League games in 2023/34, with the issue of injury time proving another divisive issue. It's a notion that Arteta's side ultimately benefited from in the Community Shield, with Leandro Trossard scoring a 101st minute penalty before the Gunners prevailed on penalties.
It all means Arsenal will be without Tomiyasu for their London derby, although that blow will be softened by the timely return to fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko. Gabriel Jesus has also been sidelined, while new signing Jurrien Timber is set to miss the entire season after picking up a serious knee injury on the opening day.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
