Eberechi Eze
Richard Keys has voiced concerns over Sunderland’s decision to adjust their advertising hoardings during their recent 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. The former Sky Sports presenter suggested that moving the hoardings closer to the pitch might have “endangered” Arsenal players, although he acknowledged that no rules were violated.
Richard Keys said: “What they did was moved the hoardings in with the idea being to stop Arsenal using long throws. It’s very clear the purpose of having done that, as long as there’s a metre between the touchline and the hoarding. But in a time where we’ve recently had a fatality because of the proximity of a concrete wall, and I know it’s entirely different, I just looked at that yesterday and it looked a bit close for me. That might be endangering the well-being of those on the football pitch. I know there’s a meeting at Arsenal tomorrow to discuss. No rules have been broken, Sunderland are well within their rights, but I’m not sure. On the one hand, it’s very smart, it’s a talking point and it did go unnoticed by Arsenal, and it was a subject of conversation after they’d left the ground yesterday, so we’ll wait for developments on that.”
The match saw Arsenal struggle with their long-throw routines, a tactic they have effectively utilized in recent months. Sunderland’s strategy appeared to be a calculated attempt to disrupt Arsenal’s set-piece advantage. Head coach Régis Le Bris, when asked about the move, acknowledged with a smile that it was a deliberate tactic to gain an edge over the league leaders.
Régis Le Bris said: “Yeah, we tried to find the details to win the game. They are really strong on set-pieces, we were good as well.”
Despite the tactical disruption, Arsenal managed to secure a point thanks to a last-minute equalizer by Brian Brobbey. Arsenal player Eberechi Eze downplayed the impact of the hoardings, noting that it was something the players had to adapt to in the Premier League.
Eberechi Eze said: “I can’t say I noticed. It’s probably the guys who were taking the throw-ins noticed. But these are some of the things that you have to deal with in the Premier League. We are proud of what we did, and we know what we’re capable of. We’re going to keep building.”
Eze echoed the sentiments of Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, emphasizing the team’s resilience and the challenge of securing points at Sunderland this season.
Eberechi Eze said: “The message is that we did what we needed to do. To put in the performance that we did is serious. Not many teams will get points here.”
The incident has sparked discussions about the tactical use of stadium infrastructure and its implications for player safety, with Arsenal set to review the situation further. Sunderland’s unbeaten home record remains intact, highlighting their strategic acumen in navigating the Premier League’s competitive landscape.
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