One former Premier League referee has taken aim at Arsenal defender William Saliba over something he did against Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal had to main disciplined and solidity at the back to see out their 1-0 win in the North London Derby.
In a typically feisty affair in this clash between local rivals, referee Jarred Gillett was not shy when it came to dishing out cards. Eight players saw yellow in total, including three of Mikel Arteta’s men.
William Saliba went into the book early on as, after having committed an innocuous foul in the middle of the park, he picked up the ball was therefore adjudged to have delayed the restart.
The Frenchman then had to see out 75 minutes of the match on a caution, knowing that a single mistake could see him dismissed.
The centre-back managed this situation magnificently, not putting another foot wrong for the rest of the game. Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were both brilliant at the back for Arsenal, providing the bedrock upon which this victory was built, with the latter of the pair even producing the winning goal.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher sides against William Saliba
Although Saliba impressed throughout the remainder of the match, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher feels that the centre-back ought to be frustrated with himself for the manner in which he received his yellow card.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Gallagher said: “It’s just too blatant. Not only does he pick the ball up, he takes it away, offers himself up early in the game and puts pressure on himself.
“He puts the referee under pressure, too, because now, he can’t make a rash tackle or he’ll get sent off and the referee would have to show a red.”
Mikel Arteta allowing bad habit to form at Arsenal
Regardless of whether or not it can be argued that Saliba’s caution was harsh, Arsenal are now well aware that their players will be punished for such infractions.
In the last game prior to this match, Declan Rice was sent off after he was shown a second yellow card, having been judged to have kicked the ball away as Brighton were about to take a free kick.
On that occasion, Gallagher again felt that Rice deserved his punishment.
Arteta simply needs to lay down the law in the dressing room, and make it abundantly clear to his Arsenal squad that they can do nothing to impede or postpone an opponents’ efforts to take a set-piece. Failure to address this bad habit will see the Gunners continually punished by officials.
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