Declan Rice addresses accusations of Arsenal 'cheating' in Premier League games

Declan Rice has refuted claims that Arsenal are 'cheating' in Premier League matches, stating that their tactics are simply a strategic part of the game.

Arsenal, seeking to win their first Premier League title since 2004, were accused of ‘time-wasting’ during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City earlier in the month.

Several Man City players criticised Arsenal’s approach at the Etihad Stadium as the ten-men visitors desperately, and ultimately unsuccessfully, tried to hang on for a famous win.

Later in the week, pundit Graeme Souness accused Arsenal’s players of conning referees ‘every week’ with their use of blockers during set-pieces.

No team in the Premier League has scored more goals from set-pieces this season and Souness believes officials need to ‘wake up’ to their underhand tactics.

Rice is aware that he and his Arsenal team-mates have been accused of ‘cheating’ but says it should instead be viewed as ‘part of the game’.

‘I think we do a little bit of work [on the delivery of set-pieces] when we can,’ the England midfielder said when asked about Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces.

‘Obviously with the game schedule, it is really tough to get onto the grass and really practice, so we just have internal discussions about what we are going to do. 

‘Look, there is always going to be conversations about us blocking and making fouls, but I think the goals we have scored from set-pieces this season, I don’t think there has been one foul involved. 

‘Sometimes people look for a foul or people are mentioning that we are cheating in a way on set-pieces because we are blocking, but it’s part of the game. 

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‘Teams do it to us and we are just trying to exploit other teams’ weaknesses. We found a way to do that again [against Leicester].’ 

Arsenal scored two injury-time goals to beat Leicester City 4-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and stay third in the Premier League, one point behind early leaders Liverpool.

‘I’m very happy, first of all with the performance,’ Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told BBC Sport. ‘I think we were unbelievable.

‘We deserved to win with many more goals. Starting the second half the way we did, conceding the first goal makes things harder and then with the equaliser the team showed unbelievable character to keep pushing, creating chance after chance.

‘We suffered more than we should have but this is football. Really happy with the team.’

Arsenal now turn their attentions to the Champions League and a huge clash with French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, before they host relegation-battlers Southampton at the weekend.

Southampton are one of five Premier League clubs yet to secure a win this season, along with fellow promoted clubs Ipswich Town and Leicester City and Wolves and Crystal Palace.

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