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Arsenal defender David Luiz believes that contact in football should be appreciated as it is part of the game.
The 33-year-old has launched a canny dig at VAR by suggesting that players don’t need to be as protected as they currently are, and that it’s easy to tell whether or not a pro is aiming to cause damage to an opponent. .
It comes after a series of heavy tackles that marred last weekend’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, with Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk suffering a serious injury to his ACL following a questionable challenge from the goalkeeper of the Everton Jordan Pickford.
There were calls on social media for the England goalkeeper to receive a retrospective ban after escaping punishment on the field, but PGMOL confirmed earlier this week that no such action will be taken.
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Luiz did not speak specifically in relation to the Van Dijk incident, which could keep the Dutch international out until the summer of 2021, but injuries, including serious ones, are an unfortunate consequence of the nature of the game.
“It is a game with contact. This is football and it will always be like that,” he said, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“It’s part of our job and sometimes we get unlucky with some balls and you can injure us or hurt someone, but you have to say ‘I’m sorry’, be humble and move on. If you really mean it, everyone will see. .
“But the most important thing is that we have to protect football. Football is made to make people happy, to play football like that, but also to understand that there is some contact and that it is part of the game.”
Luiz spoke before Arsenal’s Premier League game against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
He also praised manager Mikel Arteta for instilling a strong mentality within the team since his arrival at the club, stating that the former midfielder brought a sense of fun, but also organization and discipline to the team.
“When we have the ball, we try to have the most fun and when we don’t have the ball we try to get it back,” he added.
“The first defenders are the forwards. They have to do their job, push in the right way, and that makes things much easier for us.
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“It is not only about defending the last line with the goalkeepers, it is about the whole team working together with struggle and commitment.
“We are working hard, we understand what Mikel wants from us, we know how we want to play and we have the right mentality and attitude. We want to achieve.”
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