Harry Kane and Erik Lamela have been accused of diving during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the weekend and Arsenal fans are anticipating more of the same during the North London Derby.
Tottenham had two penalties awarded to them by referee Jon Moss against Liverpool on Sunday.
The first was given after Kane took a tumble… Even though Kane was very clearly offside.
Van Dijk accused the England striker of diving, regardless of the fact he was offside.
“I felt contact and I went down. I’m not going to jump out of the way because it’s football,” Kane said post-match, reports the BBC.
Then, in stoppage time, after Mohamed Salah’s terrific solo goal, Virgil van Dijk collided with Erik Lamela, who went to ground rather easily. Kane converted it.
“He definitely caught me because it hurt afterwards,” insisted Lamela, reports the Evening Standard. “Maybe he meant to play the ball and not catch me; I’d need to see it again on TV.”
It’s these kind of antics, which Spurs tend to get away with, that are concerning Arsenal fans ahead of the North London Derby.
Even though the clash will take place at Wembley, the Gunners’ second home, it’s still technically an away game and we’ve all witnessed how Arsene Wenger’s men perform when they’re not at the Emirates.
Plus it’s a North London Derby so there will be extra incentive for Spurs to throw themselves around the box.
Obviously, Gooners’ worry over the match on Saturday seems to be accompanied by anger that Spurs have been doing this for ages, yet it’s hardly mentioned. They continue to get the benefit of the doubt, so chances are they will against Arsenal as well.
Some are predicting the officials could end up ruining another game.
Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.
Here’s what Twitter had to say:
3 – Dele Alli has been handed three yellow cards for simulation since his debut Premier League season in 2015-16; no player has received more. Hoodwinked.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 4, 2018
Proof that Dele Alli rarely gets caught. Probably does 3 dives a game.
— Jameel (@J11355L) February 4, 2018
Or “cheat”
— SΛNDY_PΛNDY (@Sandy_Pandy) February 4, 2018
Should be 10+ if the refs had right calls Everytime
— kharis pohan (@kharis_kun8) February 4, 2018
and how many dives has he gotten away w or spurs gotten penalty for? how many points for spurs resulted from rose, kane and alli dives? team strategy – cheats
— jam’n (@ben_ripple) February 4, 2018
Hahhahahaha… excellent condition job. He should have 3 every game. Oh wait….hez English?!.
— Navnit Shetty (@navnit013) February 5, 2018
That is 100% a dive. Disgraceful by Kane, but that is the Tottenham way. Cheating their way to no trophies.
— The 2Ö21 Man (@_The12thMan) February 4, 2018
What a pathetic dive by Lamela, Tottenham a team of cheats
— Tal Ofer (@TalOfer) February 4, 2018
I don’t understand why the media , Sky, pundits whom ever . Haven’t made a big deal about this ….
— Estin Brown. (@essyybaby) February 4, 2018
If the FA look into that’s its surely a retrospective ban which would put him out of the arsenal game.
— MattM (@mattm_official) February 4, 2018
The truth about teaching players to dive, is that it undermines the players’ confidence. When the crunch comes they become chokers. They become trophyless Tottenham Hotspur. Because in their hearts, they know they are faking it.
— Lulu (@lulumr) February 5, 2018
Tottenham and Chelsea players are known to dive a lot, let’s not rule out Man City players
— #Allegri To Arsenal (@TolaOAdeoye) February 5, 2018
#bbcfootball When are the media going to highlight the amount of times Tottenham Dive? It's almost like the worst kept secret in football. We all know it's happening but no one mentions it.
— Bandog (@Bandoguk) February 5, 2018
tottenham dive, kick and punch when they start losing and everyone knows this. shameful club deserve 0 respect.
— Tosi (@tosiafc) February 4, 2018
Tottenham dive most in the Premiership and play the dirtiest pressing game. Ref likely to decide the North London Derby… again
— GöönRambler (@GoonRambler) February 4, 2018
I blame this fella Klinnsman for teaching Tottenham how to dive. #MOTD2 #LFC #THFC pic.twitter.com/q4kDkzf8Lz
— John (@jvwalsh51) February 4, 2018
Leave it to Tottenham to dive every minute of the game, pathetic #AFC
— OnlyAFC (@_OnlyAFC) February 4, 2018
Tottenham’s motto : if at first you don’t succeed dive and dive again
— Nacho Unreal (@arsenal_truth_) February 4, 2018
Tottenham should officially change their name to Dive FC.
— MICHAEL (@Ikoro85) February 4, 2018