Arsenal have been revealed as the Premier League’s biggest time-wasters after being accused of deploying delaying tactics during their draw at Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s side have come under fire for alleged gamesmanship as they looked to protect a sensational lead during the second half at the Etihad, before John Stones scored a dramatic equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Several City players voiced their irritation with the stop-start nature of the game and Kyle Walker even claimed the visitors had used ‘the dark arts’.
And research conducted by Opta Analyst appears to show that City’s complaints were valid with Arsenal topping the table for the top-flight’s highest average delays.
Indeed, it has been confirmed Arteta’s outfit have wasted the most time when matches stop for corners, goal kicks, free-kicks, penalties, throw-ins and kick-offs.
Manchester City’s Kyle Walker accused Arsenal of using the ‘dark arts’ in their 2-2 draw at the Etihad
Opta has analysed the length of the delays caused by the Gunners during the game on Sunday
Mikel Arteta’s side have come under fire for alleged delaying tactics during the second half
Using data from each of those categories, Arsenal take an average of 31.8 seconds, placing them narrowly ahead of second-placed Leicester City.
By comparison, Tottenham take just 24.2s over dead balls.
West Ham waste the least time, clocking 23.9s in the same situations, while Liverpool are second from bottom with an average time of 24.1.
Reigning champions City, meanwhile, take 25.4s on average.
Brentford round off the top three on 31.2s with Chelsea seventh. Manchester United are 12th with a delay time of 27.6s, four seconds faster than Arsenal.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked for unsporting behaviour after appearing to relay a message to goalkeeper David Raya, who then fell to the floor in another stop to proceedings.
Referee Michael Oliver booked the 17-year-old after the substitute trotted behind Raya’s goal line while warming up in the 65th minute as the Gunners led 2-1.
Speaking to TNT Sports Brasil post-match, a frustrated Bernardo Silva said: ‘There was only one team that came to play football. The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately.
Research from Opta has revealed that Arsenal are the Premier League’s biggest time-wasters
City players regularly clashed with their opponents as they looked to overturn a 2-1 deficit
Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked after speaking to goalkeeper David Raya
‘I’m glad we always enter the pitch to try to win every match.’
Kyle Walker added: ‘As a match, it is a great spectacle for the Premier League.
‘Probably not so much certain stuff – I think it’s part and parcel of the game and we’ll say the dark arts. I think as a Manchester City fan or player, you are obviously frustrated. As an Arsenal manager, he is going to say well played and well managed.’
