West Brom players slam Cazorla dive

The Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla was alleged for diving for the penalty which lead to the opening goal in the match against West Bromwich Albion. The Spainard’s dive in the first half was as obvious as they come as TV replays showed Steven Reid, the West Brom defender, make no contact with his challenge before Mikel Arteta stepped up to convert the first of two spot kicks.

Steve Clark, the West Brom manager insisted that Cazorla tricked referee Mike Jones and fumed after the match. He said:

“There was zero contact, it wasn’t even close. I didn’t feel there was any contact. If you look at the player involved as well, I think the reaction says it all.”

Jonas Olsson claimed divers are ruining the Premier League – and found an unlikely voice of support. Olsson said:

“I don’t like people diving. I’m not very objective either being a defender. Most of the time I like this league because of the fair play it contains. The ref doesn’t have the privilege of watching replays. It’s a difficult job. If it’s a dive the focus should be on the person diving as well.”

Meanwhile Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his side got lucky with the opener and he will look at footage of the incident and speak again to his midfielder if he felt there was a dive. He said:

“We were a bit lucky maybe on the first penalty because he could have given it or not given it.”