Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has called for Premier League referees to start giving freekicks and goal kicks for fouls during corners after watching Arsenal beat Chelsea. He claimed that the number of fouls has increased and that a swift change is needed.
Speaking on Via Play after the game at Emirates, Schmeichel said that Arsenal and Chelsea players were constantly fouling each other in the box during corners, as the referees were not blowing for it. He added that the set-pieces have taken predominance in the game because of it, and they cannot let the title be decided on it. The Manchester United legend said:
"All the goals we've seen now, all the pushing and shoving and pulling players down, I think we need to get onto the referees now and say, this has got to stop. Now every time it happens, give a goal kick or a free kick and start over so we stop it."
"Because it's not, I mean, that's not in the spirit of the game. It isn't. And it's literally, you've got like six, seven, eight fouls on every corner kick we see. And it's not good. It's not. We need to stop this. I mean, we can't have all these games, we can't have the championship decided on corner kicks. We just can't."
Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates on Sunday, March 1, with all three goals coming from corners. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber scored for the Gunners, while an own goal from Piero Hincapié got the Blues level in the first half.
Manchester United legend backs Arsenal's set piece reliance
Manchester United legend Jaap Stam was also on Via Play after the game at Emirates, saying that he understands why Arsenal are relying on corners and set pieces. He added that they are training to win the Premier League title and are using everything possible to get the points.
"You know as well, when you're like going for winning the title, that all the other teams, they're doing everything against you to not score from open play. So you need to find ways to also score in different ways. And that's why you use the set pieces. I think that's why you need to train. I'm not saying it's a thing that makes the game more beautiful. No, not at all. But if the opportunity is there, the possibility is there to use that, then I think you need to do that.
Manchester United have moved to third in the Premier League table, but remain 13 points adrift of Arsenal, who have played a game more.