Extremely, Arsenal have made a grievance to the PGMOL for repeated fouls on Bukayo Saka, and there are a number of explanation why this can be a questionable stance to take.
Saka was the third-most fouled participant within the Premier League in 2023, with solely Crystal Palace‘s Jordan Ayew and Newcastle‘s Bruno Guimaraes forward of him in that exact class.
This has precipitated the Gunners to protest concerning the therapy the winger is receiving within the high flight, however we’re not fully positive their problem is a very legitimate one.
The Daily Mail have reported that Arsenal have taken exception to persistent challenges on the winger, which have led to him changing into the league’s third most-fouled participant.
You could, fairly rightly, be questioning the place Mohamed Salah sits in that exact listing, with the Egyptian usually subjected to aggressive dealing with within the Premier League.
Remarkably, he finds himself all the best way down in 68th on that entrance, however that doesn’t essentially inform the total story.
The stats present that solely two gamers are fouled extra usually than Saka, however that metric solely accounts for challenges which can be awarded as fouls by referees.
That implies that officers are, actually, defending the 22-year-old from such therapy greater than most, whereas huge quantities of offences on Salah proceed to go unpunished.
Mikel Arteta advised Saka again in February that he can’t depend on referees to assist him out when challenged by opponents, however the figures present that that is more and more changing into the case.
Arsenal‘s complaints are centred round a scarcity of bookings for the tackles he’s subjected to, however Jurgen Klopp may argue that merely pulling play again when Salah is wrestled to the bottom can be place to begin.
It may also be value Arteta and Arsenal remembering that Saka was lucky to flee a sending-off throughout their current 1-1 draw with the Reds at Anfield.
The 2 sides will come up towards one another once more within the FA Cup third spherical this weekend, however Salah received’t be accessible for the conflict having already departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Let’s see which of the wingers finally ends up profitable probably the most fouls in 2024, no prizes for guessing!