Jamie Carragher feels that two other Arsenal players should share the blame for the red card picked up by Takehiro Tomiyasu against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Tomiyasu was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the space of seven second-half minutes, the first of which was for the time it took him to take a throw-in.
Prior to the first yellow card, Kai Havertz had the ball in his hands for 15 seconds, before handing it to Tomiyasu, who was then booked for holding onto it for eight seconds.
As well as that, Thomas Partey had been warned about getting the ball back quickly just before the throw-in.
Jamie Carragher on Tomiyasu time wasting incident
“You just look at the referee," said Carragher on Monday Night Football. "‘No more, we don’t want no more of it’. Arsenal wasting time. He’s telling Thomas Partey there.
"From this goal kick, it ends up going up the other end of the pitch. As I said, we’re almost 20 seconds away from where Arsenal find themselves with a throw-in close to the halfway line.
“And I actually feel sorry for Tomiyasu because I think the role of Thomas Partey initially. Now Kai Havertz actually picks the ball up. And the time when he gets it and picks the ball up ends up being about 20 seconds himself. But I think Havertz has a look then throws it to Tomiyasu.
“I don’t think Tomiyasu’s actually trying to waste time. I think he’s actually looking for a throw-in, to get it in quickly. He actually ran to pick up the ball. He wasn’t slow. I can understand the referee. But he’s almost took one for the team.”
RED CARD FOR TOMIYASU! 🟥
What do you think of the decision? 😬 pic.twitter.com/sByfcMRptu— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 21, 2023
Mikel Areta reacts to Tomiyasu red card
Tomiyasu's second yellow card was for a fairly nothing foul on Jordan Ayew, and after the game his manager Mikel Arteta was critical of the time wasting decision, despite seeing his side go on to secure a 1-0 victory.
"These are the [new] standards," the Spaniard told BBC.
"I don't know exactly how long... [On being told it was 23 seconds]. No, it wasn't. I think it was eight seconds. We might have to play with a stop watch. It's OK, we won the game, I'm happy.
"The new rules are one thing, the way it is communicated is very different but we will adapt."
Before this season started, clubs were told that referees would be clamping down on time wasting, and while Tomiyasu appears to be the first victim of the strict rules, he probably won't be the last.
