'Don't even get me started' - Graeme Souness demands Arsenal intervention in furious rant
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has slammed Ben White's conduct during set pieces after the explosive North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners eked out a thrilling 3-2 victory helped by White's contentious play, including attempts to tamper with Spurs' shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicarion's gloves.
The Arsenal right-back repeatedly disrupted the goalkeeper during corner kicks as his side continue to reap rewards from set pieces. This season, Arsenal have netted the most Premier League goals from set pieces since West Brom in the 2016-17 campaign.
The club's set-piece maestro, Nicolas Jover, who joined from Manchester City last year, has received high praise for his influence. However, Souness isn't convinced and reckons that it is high time the Gunners were penalised for their tactics.
In his column in the Daily Mail, the former Liverpool skipper made his views clear, reports the Mirror: "I've heard a lot of talk about the 'genius' of Arsenal's so-called set-piece 'guru' and the incredible work he's played in the team's push for the title." "Well, forgive me for bursting the bubble here, but amid all the excitement about the goals Tottenham conceded from corners last week, something very significant was somehow missed. Two of those goals should not have counted.
"We are witnessing a stealthy, very deliberate, strategy from Arsenal - and Ben White in particular - to obstruct goalkeepers in a way which will avoid detection by the referees." Souness then went on to say: "Might I suggest the referees consult their own little FA rule books for a definition of that term? Law 12 states, in black and white, that obstruction is 'moving into the opponent's path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.'".
"'Set-piece genius'? This blocking by players from set-pieces is more prevalent than ever before, which presents a challenge for referees. "But Arsenal do this every game and it's always by White, so the penny should have dropped long ago."
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"Arsenal have been using this pattern of offending ever since the set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, joined Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. That was two seasons ago. "Don't even get me started on the fact that we also have the VAR officials, sitting in their warm booth, equipped with the camera capacity that ought to be pulling Arsenal up on this every time."
