Mikel Arteta hits out at time-wasting inconsistencies after Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace... but the Gunners boss admits he 'absolutely loved' his side's performance
Mikel Arteta may have 'loved' Arsenal's narrow win at Crystal Palace but believes a stopwatch may be needed to iron out inconsistencies in time-wasting after Takehiro Tomiyasu fell foul of the rules.
The Gunners won 1-0 in south London as Martin Odegaard's second-half penalty proved the difference.
Japan defender Tomiyasu was sent off at Selhurst Park, picking up a soft yellow card for a foul on Jordan Ayew just seven minutes after being cautioned for perceived time-wasting at a throw-in.
The new remit for officiating this season has called, among other changes, for a clamp down on time-wasting but Arteta believes the timing did not add up on Tomiyasu's booking.
Asked about the rule changes, the Spaniard replied: 'For me it is not an issue. The referee makes that call.
'And we are consistent with that. They explained it. The only thing we are asking for is consistency. If not we need to play with a stopwatch to understand what is it and what is not.'
Arteta did not agree when told Tomiyasu had waited 23 seconds to take the throw-in before being cautioned - replying: 'It wasn't. I think it was eight seconds. We might have to play with a stopwatch.
'This is the standards.'
Despite the red card, Arsenal made it two wins from two following on from the opening-day victory over Nottingham Forest.
Odegaard stepped up to tuck away a penalty after Eddie Nketiah - who had hit a post in the first half - was tripped by Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
'I loved it, absolutely loved it,' Arteta said of the win.
'It's a really difficult place to come, we played the way we wanted to play 11 against 11. We dominated the game, we created enough chances, we missed two very, very huge chances.
'We scored the penalty and then we have to play half an
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