Hackett Exclusive: Arsenal boss Arteta 'guilty' after time-wasting complaints
Yesterday at 12:36 PM
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is just as guilty as other Premier League managers when it comes to time-wasting, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that a rule change may be required after Arteta was caught on camera complaining about time-wasting in a 2-0 loss to Newcastle (7 January).
The Gunners had 23 shots in their game against Newcastle, but were unable to find the back of the net, with the Emirates boss agitated on the sidelines and looking at his watch.
Arsenal will need to overturn the deficit when the two sides meet in the second-leg on 5 February.
Arsenal are the Premier League’s biggest time-wasters
There is an irony to Arteta complaining about time-wasting, as it has been a critique made of his Arsenal side this season on multiple occasions, including by Liverpool manager, Arne Slot. [The Telegraph]
Fans online were quick to give their opinion on Arteta, calling the Spaniard “embarrassing.”
The Gunners have received the most yellow cards for time-wasting in the Premier League this season with nine, two more than Bournemouth who are second in that unenviable table. [Opta Analyst]
Time-wasting was not Arteta’s only complaint from the game against Newcastle, the Spanish manager also took issue with the balls that had been used in the match.
Hackett does agree that time-wasting is an issue that needs to be addressed by the PGMOL, something he previously worked with ex-Gunners chief David Dein on, but noted the irony of the Arsenal manager highlighting it.
Speaking to Football Insider about the Spaniard’s complaints, the former referee said:
“For many years I have joined forces with former Arsenal director David Dein calling for an independent timekeeper including a visual stop clock inside the stadium for fans to be able to see.
“This would of course require a change to the Laws of the game. Under the current Law 5 section relating to the Powers and duties the Referee acts as timekeeper, keeps a record of the match etc.
“In recent years the timing of games has become a problem, and it is ironic that the Arsenal manager whose team do not have a great record in this area should express concerns.
“At the start of this season in an effort to increase the average actual playing time, which averages at 52mins, the PGMOL started to focus on the issue and we had an excess of 14 minutes of added time at the end of games.
“This was another example of these six week clampdowns that fizzle out and are not sustained.
“We have a law where the goalkeeper, once in possession of the ball, has six seconds to distribute it – a law rarely enforced. Goalkeepers hold on to the ball for sometimes 20 seconds and referees take no action.
“Delayed free kicks. Take injuries where a player going down starts to rub his head and suddenly we have a water break, and another delay whilst the coach starts to deploy different tactics.
“The corner kicks where referees go in tally to players who are holding each other and when play restarts the offences go unpunished.
“So, Mr Arteta you are as guilty as other managers who empower their players to waste time.
“Football needs to get its act together and stop this nonsense and like other sports employ an independent timekeeper.”
This also is not the first time Arsenal have had issues with officiating, a controversial penalty was given against them on 4 January and Hackett had this to say about the issue.
In other news, Arsenal fans gave their opinion on the hiring of a former Gunners legend.
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The post Hackett Exclusive: Arsenal boss Arteta 'guilty' after time-wasting complaints appeared first on Football Insider.
