Jamie Carragher has identified the tactic Arsenal are using (Image: The Overlap)
Jamie Carragher has accused Arsenal of breaking the rules, following allegations that Mikel Arteta’s side utilized dark arts.
The Gunners were on the verge of an incredible triumph over Manchester City at the weekend, despite having to play for nearly an hour with 10 men following Leandro Trossard’s dubious expulsion.
Ultimately, John Stones’ late goal won a point for the champions, but Arsenal will believe their championship hopes have been boosted by a show of tenacity and stubbornness.
Rather than focusing on the finer elements of Arsenal’s defense, Arteta’s team has received a barrage of criticism from analysts and fans alike, accusing them of attaining a positive result by any means necessary.
Statistics released earlier this week revealed that Arsenal are the Premier League’s biggest time wasters this season, and Carragher believes they are exploiting a loophole in a rule that requires the referee to stop a game if a goalkeeper is injured.
‘When I brought up Morurinho, he was always ahead of the game in terms of trying to gain an edge somewhere,’ Carragher told Sky Bet’s The Overlap.
‘There is one thing I observe Arsenal doing more than everyone else. I’m not sure whether the statistics back me up. I believe the goalie falls down a lot more than other goalkeepers in difficult circumstances.
‘The regulation is that a goalkeeper cannot be sent off, therefore the Arsenal coaching staff are more aware of this than anybody else. Raya has a tendency to falter under pressure.
Guest host Paul Scholes jumped in and went a step further, saying: ‘Cheating that’s called, Jamie?’
‘It is, but you said it so you could get the headline and not me,’ Carragher said.
Arsenal return to Carabao Cup action tonight against Bolton, and Arteta came out fighting for his squad, claiming it would have been foolish not to alter his tactics and learn from prior humiliating defeats, particularly at the hands of City.
‘We learned from the past. Unfortunately, we have been in the same predicament several times.
‘We were in the same scenario as Granit after 38 minutes and lost 5-0.
‘We should learn. If not, I’d be quite thick.’
