Wolves boss Gary O’Neil criticized the officials for not penalizing what he perceived as time-wasting by Arsenal during their match on Saturday. Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory at the Emirates, moving three points clear at the top of the Premier League with goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
O’Neil expressed frustration with Arsenal’s game-management tactics, specifically pointing out what he believed were extended delays in restarts towards the end of the game. He mentioned that despite the indication of added time reaching 98 minutes due to a lengthy stoppage, Arsenal took 45 seconds for each of three restarts. O’Neil suggested that such actions, if done by his team, might have resulted in yellow cards.
While acknowledging that time-wasting is part of the game and stating that he would have done the same in Arsenal’s position, O’Neil emphasized the need for consistency in officiating. He felt that Wolves didn’t receive the additional time they expected, given the efforts to crack down on time-wasting.
Despite the loss, O’Neil praised his players for their strong performance, particularly in the first half. He acknowledged the team’s dominance and two well-scored goals but also highlighted the need to learn from allowing Arsenal back into the game with a late goal. O’Neil expressed the importance of staying focused in the Premier League and learning from such situations when leading 2-0.
Looking ahead, O’Neil acknowledged the challenges of the tough schedule but emphasized the team’s commitment to improvement and pushing for better results. Wolves are set to face Luton in their next game, and O’Neil stressed the importance of smart recovery and rest in navigating the demanding season.
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