Former footballer Chris Sutton has strongly condemned Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison for their diving antics during their respective Premier League matches over the weekend. Both Arsenal and Tottenham faced defeats, with Nottingham Forest securing survival by beating Arsenal and Brentford coming from behind to defeat Spurs 3-1.
Sutton expressed his disapproval of Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison, suggesting that the latter has a history of easily going down, similar to his fellow Brazilian compatriot. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's 606, Sutton criticized the prevalence of players falling theatrically in the modern game, even with the slightest contact. He argued that if referees were stricter in penalizing such behavior, players would be deterred from diving.
However, Sutton specifically called out the actions of two players from North London following the weekend's Premier League action. He remarked, "Jesus went down too easily. Richarlison, he has a history of it as well. What's with these Brazilians going down too easily? It doesn't matter where you are in the world. We will call you out."
Both Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison were high-profile signings for their respective clubs during the summer transfer window. However, their seasons have unfolded differently from their initial aspirations. Arsenal aimed to secure a return to the Champions League, which they accomplished, although they fell short of challenging for the Premier League title. On the other hand, Richarlison's Tottenham is at risk of missing out on European competitions altogether, and he has only managed to score one Premier League goal since his club-record transfer from Everton.
As the issue of diving continues to be a contentious topic in football, Sutton's criticism highlights the need for stricter enforcement by referees to discourage players from engaging in such behavior. The focus remains on Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison, who now face scrutiny for their actions on the pitch.