Arsenal Exclusive: Refs told to clampdown on ‘wrestling’ at corners
Keith Hackett believes one of the reasons Arsenal are scoring so many goals from corners is because their players are grappling their opponents inside the box.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief, ex-FIFA, and Premier League referee believes that referees are “ignoring” what Mikel Arteta’s team are doing during corners.
The Gunners once again scored via a set play on Sunday (8 December) as William Saliba found the back of the net to equalise against Fulham.
Arteta’s side were unable to find an eventual winner and were forced to share the points, allowing Chelsea to go ahead of them in the Premier League table.
Scoring from corners has become a specialist skill for the Gunners as they have done so 23 times since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, but Hackett believes they’re not doing so fairly.
Arsenal are getting away with fouls during corners
Hackett told Football Insider, “The referee failed to grip, as a lot of referees are doing, grappling, almost rugby-style play in the penalty area.
“That’s the point I want to make, and it’s about time.
“There’s no doubt one of the reasons they’re scoring goals from corners is that they’ve got one or two players who are holding their opponent, wrestling them to the ground, and referees are ignoring it.
“The question here is that we are being over-tolerant in terms of grappling, wrestling, rugby-style play in the penalty area.
“The PGMOL have got to do something about it because we’re watching football not rugby.”
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