Jamie Redknapp slammed Arsenal trio Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Matteo Guendouzi for their diving antics in Saturday’s win against Huddersfield.
He coated the trio and hailed referee Paul Tierney for dishing out yellow cards for a part of the game he is convinced can be eliminated when the video assistant referee is introduced to the Premier League next season.
“Referee Paul Tierney deserves credit for booking three Arsenal players — Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Matteo Guendouzi — for diving,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.
“VAR will go a long way to stamping out simulation. Once players are unable to escape punishment, it will make them less likely to dive.”
OPINION
Never mind relying upon VAR. Unai Emery must come down like a ton of bricks on the antics of his players. It is embarrassing for a club of Arsenal’s class and stature that three of their players were booked for diving in a match that featured seven cards in the first half (seven yellows), the most in a Premier League first 45 since Chelsea v Aston Villa in January 2011 (also seven yellows). There has been so much to admire about Arsenal during their 21-match unbeaten run, from the lion-hearted performances of Lucas Torreira, to the blistering speed of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the finishing prowess of Alexandre Lacazette. But diving stains the sport and the reputations of the club the players represent. Guendouzi is 19 and will learn, but experienced pair Mustafi and Xhaka should no far better than trying to con the referee into handing out favours to their side. Poor form, and something that must be stamped out.