Fans have ruthlessly ripped into Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya after footage of him appearing to complain about Brentford’s corner tactics was shared to social media.
Arsenal failed to extend their gap at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford on Thursday night, with Keane Lewis-Potter’s goal cancelling out Noni Madueke’s opener.
One of the Gunners’ key strengths this season has been their dominance from set-pieces, with almost a third of their goals coming from dead-ball situations.
A tactic that has proved fruitful for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been crowding the six-yard box and surrounding the opposition goalkeeper with several players in an attempt to maximise chaos.
Brentford adopted the same tactic at the Gtech Stadium on Thursday night to pose Arsenal plenty of problems, eventually equalising from a long thrown-in where they crowded the penalty box.
Footage of Raya waving his arms about in protest during a Brentford corner was shared to social media midway through the game, much to the amusement of fans online.
Fans have ruthlessly ripped into Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya after footage of him appearing to complain about Brentford’s corner tactics was shared to social media on Thursday
Mikel Arteta’s side failed to extend their lead at the top after the 1-1 draw against the Bees
‘I’m so excited, it feels good watching them at the receiving end of their own poison,’ one fan posted.
A second wrote: ‘Taste of their own medicine.’
Echoing those sentiments, a third supporter added: ‘Medicine feels bitter when you have to take it.’
‘The tactics they started. Sure every team will do same to them now,’ a fourth fan chimed in.
Another said: ‘When you can’t take what you dish.’
In a separate video shared to social media, Raya could be seen remonstrating with referee John Brooks as he appeared to complain about Brentford’s tactics from the corner.
Manchester United fans were quick to point out that Arsenal used the exact strategy against them last month, sharing an image of Red Devils goalkeeper Serge Lammens deep inside his goal due to the overcrowded six-yard box.
Arsenal, who remain four points clear at the top of the table following Thursday’s draw, take on bottom-placed Wolves next in the Premier League after Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Wigan.
‘Taste of their own medicine’: Fans were quick to mock Arsenal who frequently crowd the box
Man United fans were quick to point out that Arsenal used the exact strategy against them
It sets up a crucial spell for the Gunners who will already have one eye on title rivals Manchester City, who comfortably beat Fulham 3-0 on Wednesday to close the gap.
After facing Wolves, Arteta’s side go head-to-head with local rivals Tottenham in the North London Derby before a tricky test against Chelsea at the Emirates.
