Mikel Arteta Slams Officiating: Arsenal Boss Calls Out Premier League Rule Changes.
The Premier League officiating this season has been inconsistent, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has expressed his frustration about it (Arteta Slams Officiating). The Spanish coach believes that the rules applied in the first 15 games of the campaign were “very different” compared to the latter part of the season, leading to his team being harshly punished.
Arteta’s comments come after Arsenal received five red cards this season, the joint-most in the league alongside Ipswich Town. Several of these dismissals sparked controversy, with players like Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard being sent off for delaying the restart of play early in the campaign.
The Arsenal boss expressed frustration over the shifting interpretation of the rules, stating:
The rules at the beginning of the season when we were punished and after 15 games were very different.”
One of the most debated incidents occurred in August, when Rice was sent off against Brighton for kicking the ball away, leading to Arsenal dropping points in a 1-1 draw. Just weeks later, Trossard suffered a similar fate in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Other Arsenal players, including William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly, also saw red cards in what has been a frustrating season for the North London club. Arteta hinted at a lack of consistency in officiating, sarcastically suggesting that next season might bring “new rules for some games, then change them again.”
Despite his frustrations, Arteta acknowledged Liverpool’s dominance, praising their consistency and ability to avoid distractions throughout the season. With Arsenal’s title challenge ending last week, the manager emphasized the importance of fairness in officiating moving forward.
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