Following the 2-2 draw against Sunderland, Arsenal intends to hold an urgent meeting to determine whether to file a complaint after the opposing team was accused of shifting advertising boards near the field, putting Arsenal players at risk.
After the dramatic 2-2 draw with Sunderland last weekend, Arsenal is preparing to hold an internal meeting to clarify the accusations that the opponent moved advertising boards closer to the field, an action considered potentially hazardous to player safety.
This information was revealed by veteran sports commentator Richard Keys on beIN Sports, who suggested that the Wearside team “played a trick” by narrowing the space outside the touchline to limit Arsenal’s long throw-ins.
“Sunderland did not break any rules, but they moved the advertising boards closer to the pitch. Their intention was clear: to prevent Arsenal from exploiting throw-in situations. As long as they maintain a minimum distance of 1 meter, they are not wrong. However, given recent tragic incidents caused by unsafe stadium conditions, I find this somewhat risky,” Keys emphasized.
According to him, Arsenal will hold a meeting on Monday (local time) to discuss whether to officially complain to the Premier League organizers or not. “No rules were broken; Sunderland has the right to do this. But the question is: is it safe or not,” Keys added.
Meanwhile, Sunderland's coach Regis Le Bris did not deny the action and even admitted it was part of the tactical plan he and his staff prepared to counter the league leaders.
“We tried to find every small detail that could make a difference. Arsenal is very strong in set pieces, and clearly, that was a threat we needed to neutralize. In the end, the match ended in a draw,” Le Bris stated.
The draw left Arsenal still at the top of the table, but the gap with Manchester City was reduced to 4 points after Pep Guardiola’s team defeated Liverpool 3-0.
Arsenal’s upcoming meeting promises to clarify the club’s stance on pitch safety, a matter receiving special attention following recent incidents in the football world.