Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior wants the Premier League rules around grappling during set-pieces to be revised after losing to two corner goals against Arsenal.
Rosenior tried to stop Arsenal’s set-piece dominance during the Carabao Cup semi-final, but he abandoned that plan when the Blues visited the Emirates on matchday 28.
It was a game of corners for both sides, as all three goals came from corner kicks, but it was Arsenal’s routines that Rosenior had a problem with.
In his post-match press conference, the Chelsea manager was asked his thoughts on whether grappling and holding in the box needs to be officiated, and he didn’t hesitate to share his answer.
“Yes, yes, because there’s a rule,” he said, before delving into what PGMOL need to do next.
Liam Rosenior wants a rule change on grappling to be implemented in Premier League set-pieces
Arsenal are about to break an all-time Premier League record for corner goals, so it’s unsurprising that opposition managers are calling for rule changes.
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“There’s a rule that says it can’t be a foul if the ball is not in play yet, so there’s a lot of holding and grappling that goes on before that ball is actually delivered,” Rosenior continued in his press conference.
The Chelsea manager made it clear that he didn’t want to come across as bitter, but was firm when delivering his case.
“I think that needs to be looked at, because holding is holding, but I don’t want to be bitter; we just need to deal with it better.
“But I think it is something that is coming in, set-plays are massively important in this league, in every league, but it’s something that is coming in more and more, and something that should be looked at.”
Why I think the set-piece talk after matchday 28 is ironic
Rosenior wants a change in rules after losing to two Arsenal corners at the Emirates, and while he owned that his team just couldn’t handle the pressure, the timing of the discourse is rather ironic.
Ironic or justified: Liam Rosenior wants a rule change on set-pieces after losing to Arsenal
It was only 24 hours earlier that Liverpool were dubbed ‘the new kings of set-piece goals’, a complimentary statement to celebrate Arne Slot’s team’s threat from set-play.
When Arsenal do the same and flex their strength in that area a day later, the narrative is wholly different, as rule changes, ugly football and over-reliance come into play.
Granted, fans don’t want set pieces to take over the excitement of open-play efficiency, but what we do want is some consistency, as when it comes to feedback from set-play, it seems to be one narrative for Arsenal, and another for teams who do the same.
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