Fabian Hurzeler insists Arsenal star should’ve been sent off and demands Premier League intervention
Fabian Hurzeler accused Arsenal of time-wasting in their victory over Brighton, insisting David Raya should have been sent off for this.
The Seagulls boss was left furious by the Gunners’ tactics as they secured a gritty 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium to open up a seven-point lead at the Premier League summit.
After Bukayo Saka‘s ninth-minute goal, Mikel Arteta‘s side put in a resolute display to grind out the three points on the south cost.
It was far from a pretty performance from the league leaders, who were put under huge pressure by Brighton as they chased an equaliser.
As Arsenal tried to take the sting out of the game, the home crowd and Hurzeler were left infuriated by their perceived time-wasting.
Just before the hour mark, David Raya saved from Georginio Rutter, before remaining on the floor clutching his shoulder and later receiving treatment.
This left Hurzeler incensed on the touchline, who viewed it as a deliberate delay tactic, though the Spaniard was not booked.
Hurzeler hits out
In the build-up to the game, the German had called on the Premier League to crack down on time-wasting at corners, and cited Arsenal as beneficiaries of the current rules.
And following his side’s defeat, Hurzeler once again took aim at the Gunners’ tactics, as he blasted them for slowing the game down.
In an apparent dig at the visitors’ style of play, he began: “I think we tried to play football and that’s what we are standing for.
“And of course it’s not easy to always get into a rhythm, but still we had a lot of chances so there was enough opportunity to take a win and therefore it’s not easy to get into rhythm with an opponent who tries to only to waste time.
“Definitely we can do better in the final third, but overall we try to play football and we try to find solutions.”
‘The Premier League might intervene’
Hurzeler then claimed Raya should have been booked twice for deliberate slow play, which would have seen him sent off.
The 33-year-old once again called on the Premier League to intervene, insisting clearer rules are needed to outlaw such tactics.
He continued: “I think it’s difficult, but we just need clearer rules, and normally the goalkeeper should be sent off with two yellow cards for time-wasting, but you can’t do it and therefore if you don’t have clear rules, I think it’s difficult for the referee.
“But I made my point before it and like I just mentioned we have to find a solution.
“The Premier League has to find a solution because I don’t know how you see it but for me it doesn’t make it fun to see these kind of games.”
Hurzeler wasn’t the only person unimpressed by Arsenal’s tactics in the clash, with former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Ham boss Alan Pardew claiming their style of play will take away from their Premier League title triumph if they win the league this season
Pardew claimed the Gunners will have an ‘asterisk next to their name’ should they triumph, which Hurzeler was asked about in his post-match interview.
The Seagulls boss replied: “I think everyone should judge on their own.
“I don’t want to waste too much time talking about Arsenal because I made my point and therefore let’s see how the next nine games are going.
“The Premier League might intervene on what the next referee tries to do against this time-wasting and then we see what happens. But we have to focus on us.”
Arteta plays down Hurzeler outrage
With Hurzeler visibly frustrated on the touchline, Arsenal boss Arteta was asked about the tension between himself and his opposite number.
Playing this down, he insisted: “Not from my side, no… it is what it is.”
The Spaniard was then quizzed on Hurzeler’s calls for the Premier League to change their rules, and appeared to suggest there would be little long-term benefit to this.
On a potential rule change, Arteta said: “No, they [the Premier League] would have to react every week. So, no point.”
Arteta and Arsenal enjoyed a hugely positive night at the Amex, as they clinched three points while title rivals City were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Nottingham Forest.
The results mean the title race is firmly back in the Gunners’ hands despite City’s game in hand.
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