Jamie Carragher stands up for Newcastle as he hits back at Arsenal for 'going mad' at them
Jamie Carragher has hit back at Arsenal fans for 'going mad' at Newcastle United for time-wasting after the Gunners did 'exactly the same thing'.
Arsenal supporters made their feelings clear after Newcastle became the first side of the campaign to get a result at the Emirates following a goalless draw a couple of seasons ago. That was a night unused substitute Jamaal Lascelles even picked up a booking for obstructing an Arsenal throw-in late on.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hissed that Newcastle 'haven't played against any team like this' but such was the Spaniard's respect for the Magpies, the Gunners were not afraid to slow the game down when they faced Eddie Howe's team in the reverse fixture at St James' Park a few months later. Arteta has long implored his players to learn from the 'masters' and Arsenal were not afraid to run down the clock in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, particularly after going down to 10 men.
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David Raya took his time with goal kicks and was one of a number of Arsenal players who required treatment, even going down at one point midway through the second half, which enabled the visitors to have a drinks break and team talk, while substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked for unsporting behaviour despite not even being on the pitch at the time. Arsenal fan Clive Palmer, naturally, stood up for his side on the Overlap and said 'we shouldn't apologise for trying to win', but Carragher highlighted how Newcastle previously came under fire for doing the same thing.
"You have had a bit of criticism and you defend your club in terms of your time-wasting," the Liverpool legend said. "The goalkeeper was going down, someone was going down with cramp, and you defend that. But a couple of years ago, you played against Newcastle at home and I remember you were going mad at Newcastle for exactly the same thing."
Having noted how the ball in play time against Newcastle was 'very low' in 2023 - just 51 minutes and 23 seconds - Palmer pointed out to Carragher that it was 'very high' when the Gunners faced Manchester City. However, the former England international remarked: "That was nothing to do with you."
Carragher had a point. The ball was in play just 51.7% of the time in the first half of Sunday's game when both teams had 11 men on the field. To put that figure into context, only five games have had a lower mark in the Premier League this season.
This figure admittedly rose to 64.4% after the break and it is worth noting that only two second halves have seen a higher percentage in the opening weeks of the campaign. However, it was rather telling that Manchester City, who dominate possession, were involved in all three matches.
When it comes to the average restart time of Premier League goal kicks, according to Opta, Arsenal come out on top (40 seconds) this season while no side have spent longer (33.5 seconds) resuming play in the top-flight. Bernardo Silva went as far as to claim that 'only one team came to play football' at the Etihad on Sunday, but Arteta did not bite.
"I've been there before," the former Manchester City assistant said. "I was there for four years. I have all the information so I know. Believe me.
"If we play such a game and at the end the discussion is about those topics, we are moving in a great direction because that means we are putting away things that normally are associated with them after games so that's it. I can't do anything."