Arsenal legend Tony Adams urges referees to consider rule change after more controversy

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Arsenal, who scored more goals from dead-balls (22) than any other Premier League side last season, have had huge joy from set-pieces again this season thanks to specialist coach Nicolas Jover

Tony Adams believes PGMOL need to tighten up the rules around obstruction – despite Arsenal’s continued success from set-pieces.

The Gunners have been at the heart of plenty of officiating controversy this season, with that theme continuing in their defeat at Bournemouth. William Saliba became the third Arsenal player to see red, before David Raya conceded a penalty during the 2-0 defeat.

But Adams, who relished a good, old-fashioned grapple during his playing days, said referees need to stamp out “wrestling” from dead-balls as in his view, the issue has gone too far.

Adams said: “Back in my day, I don’t know whether obstruction came into it as you used to have to defend properly and not wrestle people to the ground. Likewise when you’re in the other box, you had to move away from them because the goalkeeper probably got too much protection during those days when I used to play.

“All the stuff that I saw, all the blocks that they’re using – we did that, I remember when we won the derby back in 1993 when Andy Linighan blocked Teddy Sheringham and Neil Ruddock and I went round the back and scored the goal that won us the semi-final.

“It was a subtle block but I see things today that actually are kind of crossing the line, there are people wrestling each other to the ground.

“They’re [ Arsenal ] doing well, don’t get me wrong and they’ve got away with it so far but I do think the rules need looking at. The obstruction rule seems to have gone out the window.”

Ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, PGMOL claimed “the offence of holding (ie blocking or obstructing) will be penalised more stringently in set pieces, when an attacker is trying to stop the movement of an opponent.”

But there still appears to be an element of leniency, which Arsenal are cunningly exploiting, particularly where blocking and standing on the toes of the goalkeeper are concerned.

Arsenal scored 22 goals from set-pieces last season – more than any other Premier League side. The Gunners netted 16 alone from corners, matching the record for the most in a single top-flight season.

Set-piece guru Nicolas Jover has been the key driving force behind Arsenal’s success which has shown no signs of slowing down this season.

Mikel Arteta recently said after Bukayo Saka netted directly from a free-kick in the 2-0 Champions League triumph over Paris Saint-Germain: “It is another weapon [set-pieces] we have.

“We have great takers and at the moment a very physical team that can duel for the ball. We work on it a lot, so big credit to the coaches and then the players for buying into it and understanding that these things are game changers.”

Adams added: “Emirates are obviously a sponsor of Arsenal and they’ve opened up this shop and this experience, the Emirates world store. I’m here with them, they showed me around all the different lounges and experiences and it’s more interactive.

“From lockdown, we’re used to booking everything online but they want to do things old-school and get us down to the shop. I like structure around my vacations and Emirates are here to help with that and getting your schedule sorted.”

Arsenal Legend, Tony Adams was speaking to the Sunday Mirror for the launch of the Emirates World Travel Store which opened to the public on Wednesday 9th October. The retail store based on Gloucester Road, London is the first to open in Europe and latest in a planned roll-out of 40 stores globally.

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