Arsenal Opinon: Bad Tackles, Have We Reached A Tipping Point.

A sight too familiar to Arsenal and Arsenal Fans

Abou Diaby, Eduardo Da Silva, and Aaron Ramsey.  Ask any Arsenal fan and its pretty easy for them to tell you what they all have in common. Throw in an attempt on Emmanuel Adebayor and many Arsenal fans would have a possible case for a grand conspiracy where teams were purposely trying to break the legs of our players.

First let me say I don’t believe that to be the case. What I do believe the case is what there seems to be a growing case for – certain managers instructing their players to “get a leg in” or “be aggressive.” The players then interpret that to mean certain actions and their on field antics lead to the injuries.

Telling this week was Fulham captain, Danny Murphy, a player, coming right out and naming, Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce and Mick McCarthy as prime culprits. Murphy had this to say at a recent conference:

“Your manager dictates how you behave. You get managers who are sending their teams out to stop other teams playing, which is happening more and more – the Stokes, Blackburns, Wolves.

“They can say it’s effective and they have got to win games but the fact is the managers are sending out their players so pumped up there are inevitably going to be problems. Every ship has a captain, and that’s the manager.”

Whatever codes there are about naming names or pointing out teams who are alleged culprits was smashed with this statement. The reaction has been wide spread. There is the obvious defence of the “English game” and their is the outcry of support. But I really think that by a player coming out and saying something we are at a watershed moment.

Here’s the thing, I am not for taking out the physical nature of the English game. It is what differentiates it from the mamby pamby Italian and Spanish leagues. Ah, but don’t misconstrue this statement, I do like a passing flowing game. I think however that the two can live together if managers, refs and the leagues understand and control the nature of the physical side of the game.

The speed and “roughness” of the English game are what make it compelling. It’s hard and its quick. And even without reckless tackles there are some moments of absolute hair raising in it. What happens is when the reckless is introduced by an amped up player who has been told to get on certain players or teams. When that reckless happens you have an Eduardo, Ramsey, Zamora and even Hatem Ben Arfa.

The Ben Arfa injury is maybe more agregious than most as Nigel De Jong wasn’t even sent off for it. The argument there was that classic intent statement. He didn’t intend. To which I say – my ass. The initial foot in, wasn’t the danger it was the trailing foot that closed in around the trapped leg. Sorry, Nigel knew what he was doing. Maybe a broken leg wasn’t the end result he wanted but he was out to hurt. And you know what, sorry De Jong has shown repeatedly he is “that type of guy,” just ask Xabi Alonso.  At least Bert van Marwijk, the Netherlands manager thought enough to drop him from the national squad for that challenge.

The point is its time something has been done. Arsenal fans are too familiar with these injuries and already2 months into the season we have 4 broken legs. At this rate we will wind up with 10 total by the end of the year. The league and refs need to get in there and really lay the law down and me frankly I am all for the offending party getting a lengthy stay on the sideline for the rash challenges but the team and manager get a hefty fine. Considering the teams that are guilty of these types of managerial decisions, the hit to the pockets is probably the only way we’ll see some reticence by some managers. Others, well they just shouldn’t be given managerial oportunities again. Ya here me Sam?

Its good that a player has spoken out. Its about time. The press need to join in rather loudly. And more players and managers besides Arsene Wenger and Roberto Martinez of Wigan need to all speak out. Only then will the FA really take action.

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