(Credit: Getty Images)
(Credit: Getty Images)

'Arsenal lambasted by pundit after 'absolutely disgraceful' development a

Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson is a former England goalkeeper who played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United Blackburn Rovers and Burnley. Paul is a former England international, earning 41 caps between 2003 and 2007. He joined Football Insider in 2020 and is a regular at Premier League matches and also often hops on a plane to cover the Saudi Pro League as well as Serie A.

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Paul Robinson is fuming the Premier League allowed Arsenal to postpone the north London derby - and claimed Leeds United availability has been so bad their "last six games should have been cancelled".

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs and England number one said the decision was "an absolute disgrace" given Mikel Arteta's side had few players test positive.

As confirmed by Arsenal (15 January), the Premier League postponed Sunday's north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Gunners cited Covid-19, injuries and the African Cup of Nations as reasons why they applied for the game to be pushed back.

In a statement (15 January), Spurs expressed their "extreme surprise" at the Premier League's decision.

When asked by Football Insider's Dylan Childs for his reaction to the decision, Robinson said: "I cannot get my head round it. I really can't.

"You cannot cancel games because of injuries and the African Cup of Nations. It's not right.

"I cannot fathom why the Premier League have allowed for the game to be cancelled. If they couldn't field a team they should have recalled the players they had out on loan.

"The games been cancelled because of one or two Covid cases. It's an absolute disgrace. If Covid cases are ravaging your squad, I completely understand but that's not the case here.

"The Premier League cannot cancel games because of injuries. Leeds should have had their last six games cancelled on that basis.

"The night before Arsenal asked for the game to be postponed they fulfilled an under-23 fixture against West Ham. It's mind-boggling.

"The Premier League have got this so badly wrong."

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