“There isn’t a respect in that situation”
Claudio Ranieri has accused Arsenal of showing ‘a lack of respect’ by not kicking the ball out of play when Ismaïla Sarr was down injured.
After an Arsenal cross was defended and headed clear, Sarr was knocked to the floor by the on-rushing Ainsley Maitland-Niles, in what looked to be a clear foul.
However, Kevin Friend allowed play to continue – with the Hornets quickly losing possession after a smart interception by Gunners defender Ben White.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion man lost the ball, but Smith Rowe picked it up and dispatched a strike past Ben Foster in the Watford goal.
With Sarr down injured, Ranieri and his coaching staff clearly believed that the London outfit should’ve kicked the ball out of play so that he could receive treatment – however, Arsenal did not do that and the away side paid the price.
The Watford boss was angered by the lack of sportsmanship shown by Arsenal in that situation.
🗣️ "There isn't respect in that situation."
Claudio Ranieri believed Arsenal should have kicked the ball out in the lead up to their goal as Watford lost 1-0 at the Emirates. pic.twitter.com/HqRqiPhWkr
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 7, 2021
Speaking after the game, Ranieri told Sky Sports: “The only thing I would like to know, when there is a man on the ground, everybody expects that the ball goes back, but they [Arsenal] didn’t go back.
“There isn’t a respect in that situation and then, we get the ball with Sarr about to go on a counter-attack, there was a big foul on Sarr and they score a goal.”
He added: “If you watch the match, Danny Rose, [Moussa] Sissoko, everybody is saying ‘give the ball back’, all the stadium, all the world is waiting on this.
“When you put want to put the ball out, you have to give the ball back.”
When asked whether or not Maitland-Niles’ tackle was a foul, the Italian gave a clear and concise response.
“Unbelievable,” he stated. “The foul is unbelievable.”
The Gunners’ 1-0 victory stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games, whilst Watford have won just three Premier League games so far this season.
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