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Chris Wilder accuses Mikel Arteta of breaking the rules after Arsenal beat Sheffield United


Wilder accused the bigger clubs of bending the rules (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Chris Wilder has bemoaned big clubs breaking the rules on giving team talks during drinks breaks and highlighted Mikel Arteta as a key offender during Arsenal’s recent FA Cup win over Sheffield United.

The Sheffield United manager was opposed to rule changes that saw drinks breaks and the option of five substitutions brought in as part of Project Restart.

And he fumed at the likes of Arteta cynically using the new guidelines to his side’s advantage.

‘We were told against Arsenal we weren’t allowed before the game to give team talks and then I saw Mikel gather his troops and start delivering a team talk and I thought that rule, that directive we got from the Premier League, has gone straight out the window,’ said Wilder.

‘It’s obvious to everybody what’s going off.

“If you look, there aren’t many people having a drink, they’re having a little sip and there’s quite a lot of huddling going on and managers and coaches getting into the players.’

Arteta was named as someone who had broken the rules (Picture: Getty Images)

Wilder hopes the rules will be scrapped in due course.

‘I hope we don’t keep them,’ he added. ‘Let’s not worry about the beautiful game that’s been with us for years and stood the test of time.

‘I understand a little bit of change now and again is good – the backpass rule was great – but I’m not sure the rule changes this year have given the game a big boost and improved it.’

Sheffield United face Wolves on Wednesday, while Arsenal take on Leicester on Tuesday night.

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