Gerrard tells Arsenal star to toughen up after Villa fouling complaints
Steven Gerrard reminded Bukayo Saka that football “isn’t a no-contact sport” after the Arsenal winger complained of Aston Villa players kicking him.
Saka scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Gerrard’s Villa side on Saturday to move Arsenal four points clear of Manchester United.
In a post-match interview, Saka called on referee Andy Madley for a “bit more protection when the opposition is trying to kick me”.
Winners Arsenal do not ‘lack the bollocks’ like Everton…
To which Gerrard hit back: “He said we were too rough? They didn’t commit any fouls today?”
Arsenal actually edged the foul count 14 to 13 in the match and Gerrard added: “Listen, it’s part of the game.
“The last time I checked, it isn’t a no-contact sport. I think tackles are allowed, physicality is allowed, aggression is allowed.
“He (Saka) is a good player, an outstanding talent. I love him. But he can’t complain about that side of it. That’s football.
“I’m sitting here now with screws in my hips. I’ve had about 16 operations. I’m struggling to go to the gym at the moment. That’s all on the back of earning a living in English football. He’ll learn and he’ll learn quick.”
Back to winning ways ! 🔥
My knees though🤕🤣 pic.twitter.com/v3ixgGSyAS— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) March 19, 2022
Villa improved after not managing a shot in the first half and hit a post through Ollie Watkins but boss Gerrard was left frustrated at the final whistle.
He continued: “We didn’t deserve anything after that first-half performance, I thought we were second best. I thought Arsenal played really well, controlled a lot of the first half.
“I thought we had too much respect for Arsenal. We lacked belief in ourselves collectively. It wasn’t really until the game got into the second half where we started showing anything near where I wanted it to look.
“No complaints in terms of the overall scoreline. We could have snatched something at the end, I thought we were a lot more positive, created more.”
It was another disappointing result for Villa against a team above them, and Gerrard added: “One hundred per cent we’ve got to have respect for the run they’re on, how much they’ve improved. Mikel’s done a fantastic job.
“But if we’ve got any ambition, from the top to the bottom of the club, when we’re at home we need to go and grab these performances, we need to go and try and grab these positions off people who are above us in the league.”
