Time-wasting has become a contentious issue in football today, with Arsenal among the teams accused of frequently employing such tactics. When a team holds a narrow lead towards the closing stages of a match, it is common to see them using various methods to delay play and disrupt the game’s flow.
However, when a team is trailing, they naturally want to keep the game moving and are quick to criticise any attempts to slow it down. This demonstrates a shared hypocrisy in football: teams are happy to engage in time-wasting when it benefits them but are vocal in opposition when they find themselves on the receiving end.
Arsenal, for instance, have occasionally expressed frustration at opponents slowing the game down when the Gunners are chasing a result. Yet, they have also been accused of employing the same tactics when they are protecting a lead. Keith Hackett, the former head of referees, believes Arsenal are no different from others in this regard. Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett stated:
“Delayed free kicks. Take injuries where a player going down starts to rub his head and suddenly we have a water break, and another delay whilst the coach starts to deploy different tactics.
“The corner kicks where referees go in tally to players who are holding each other and when play restarts the offences go unpunished.
“So, Mr Arteta, you are as guilty as other managers who empower their players to waste time.
“Football needs to get its act together and stop this nonsense and, like other sports, employ an independent timekeeper.”
Hackett’s remarks highlight how widespread the issue of time-wasting has become and the need for uniform solutions to address it.
Ultimately, all teams engage in time-wasting to varying degrees, and it is an unavoidable aspect of the modern game. Arsenal, like others, must ensure their players are prepared for such tactics, particularly in the late stages of matches. It is crucial to remain focused and avoid allowing opponents to dictate the tempo when they attempt to slow things down.
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Can’t disagree – it’s pretty obvious and I really dislike seeing it from arsenal. I’d understand if it’s a big game, and we’re holding onto a lead close to the end, but we seem to do it regardless of the circumstances – I think it negatively affects us, contributes to our slow play and signals to the other team that we’re not up for the fight and just want to get through the game. Not good.
I don’t think we intentionally waste time on throw ins but it would be nice if we could speed those up as well!
Pathetic from a so called title chasing team .
From Raya ,to slow arse throw ins to players going down with cramp after 50 mins .
I get it in the last 10 mins ,but after 20 mins that’s a massive no .
As far as I’m concerned the fans are being cheated.
Are you telling me that fans pay there hard earned money to go and watch their team, Arsenal in this case, waste time at throw-ins, corners and free-kicks and goal-kicks.
Although I can see why you would do it late in a game, our team seem to use it as a tactic at any stage of the game.
And as I said earlier, its cheating the fans and needs to stop. 🙄🤦♂️
It is so irritating
The one I hate most is the throw-ins; they seem to take ages to be done. And they invariably land at an opponent’s feet! I just don’t understand it.
I remember when Arteta himself used to turn to an emergency ball boy, picking the ball for his players to initiate a quick throw and attack. On quite a few occasions this resulted in a goal for Arsenal. All that is no more
People who pay to watch deserve better.
Cards are being given yet it continues. The only solution I can suggest would be heavy club fines for persistent offending.
A slow handclap from Emirates attendees might help.
Irritating as hell, constant time wasting even at the start of games and I just don’t get it. Successful teams get moving the ball around quickly but we are now really boring, boring Arsenal. Not only that, but it’s bloody embarrassing!
There is a simple way to stop time wasting, but the powers that be don’t seem to want to deal with the problem.
Solution: Take the time keeping away from the referee.
Have an official time keeper in the stands.
Every time the ball is not in play for whatever reason, the official stops clock.
The clock only starts when the ball is back in play.
Time wasting is then redundant. (Simples😉👍).
Time wasting during free throws and free kicks is the most depressing moment of Arsenal’s game as a supporter. It’s a poor strategy that never, ever earns the team any advantage over the opposition but significantly piles up yellow cards in the team. The fact that MLS has taken to this like a major character trait of the team while taking free throws right next to Arteta on the touch line can only mean he, Arteta encourages it. That’s so cheap, so unintelligent and indicates a lack of tactical acumen on his part.