Arsenal have voiced concerns to PGMOL about the treatment of Bukayo Saka in the Premier League.
Arsenal have raised concerns with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) over the rough treatment of star winger, Bukayo Saka, in the Premier League.
The complaint emerged following numerous incidents where Saka, 22, was subjected to aggressive challenges from opponents, leading to him being the third-most fouled player in the league in 2023, and that’s without including the numerous fouls refs just ignore.
The club highlighted this issue in a meeting with referees earlier in the season, according to an exclusive from Mail Sport, indicating a growing frustration over the handling of Saka’s protection on the field.
This season, Saka has been on the end of 87 recorded fouls, surpassed only by Crystal Palace‘s Jordan Ayew with 117 and Newcastle’s thug, Bruno Guimaraes, with 92.
Arsenal‘s concern is increased by the belief that countless fouls against Saka are overlooked by referees, not reflected in the official statistics.
The core of Arsenal‘s complaint revolves around the notion that opponents seem to have more leniency in committing fouls against Saka without repercussion, something Arsenal fans would agree with because they have eyes.
The club wants referees to take a more stringent approach, suggesting a yellow card should be issued for the first significant foul on Saka, rather than waiting for repeated infringements.
Mikel Arteta had previously acknowledged the challenges faced by Saka in February last year, highlighting the need for the player to adapt to the physicality of the league.
Arteta advised Saka on the importance of understanding how to position his body, when to engage with the ball, and anticipating opponents’ actions. He stressed, “He needs to learn when to take certain balls, what to do with that ball, how to use his body, when to jump. There are a lot of things we can train but obviously, it is very difficult to understand what the opponent is going to do.”
The dialogue between Arsenal and the PGMOL reflects a broader conversation about player protection and refereeing standards in the Premier League.
While it is a routine procedure for clubs to have discussions with the refereeing body, Arsenal‘s specific focus on Saka’s treatment underscores their concern for player welfare and fair play.
The outcome of this dialogue remains to be seen, but it is clear that Arsenal are advocating strongly for their player’s safety and equitable treatment on the pitch.
It seems unlikely, however, that PGMOL can be bothered listening given that nothing has changed at all this season.