Stuart Pearce has criticised Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori for a 'pathetic' dive during the Gunners' 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday, insisting the defender should have been sent off. The former City player and manager, on commentary duty for talkSPORT, was outraged by the incident, which occurred with Arsenal leading 1-0.
Calafiori, who scored the opening goal after just 23 seconds, went down in the box under a challenge from Abdukodir Khusanov, with Arsenal fans appealing for a penalty. However, referee Samuel Barrott awarded a free-kick to City and booked the 24-year-old Italy international for simulation, with replays showing a clear dive.
Pearce's Verdict on the Dive
Pearce did not hold back in his assessment of the incident, saying: 'Well, Khusanov went down very early, kept his feet away from it. And it was nothing more than a pathetic dive, it really was. Listen, if I was Calafiori and you look at the referee and you claim it's a penalty, I'd give him a double yellow for that and get him off. If you're going to outlaw diving in the game… that was pathetic.'
The incident was a blemish on an otherwise dominant display from Arsenal, who humiliated Enzo Maresca on his City debut in Cardiff. Kai Havertz doubled the lead before captain Martin Odegaard tapped in the third minutes after the break, sealing a statement win ahead of the new Premier League season.
Calafiori's Mixed Day
Calafiori's performance was a mixed one. While his early goal set the tone for the victory, his dive drew criticism. The left-back, who has struggled with injuries since joining Arsenal, will hope this performance is a sign of things to come. He told TNT Sports post-match: 'It was such an important game and an important test for us. It was to show our mentality after last season. Amazing. It helps the team a lot when you score that early. I try always to give a solution to my team-mates. The pass was unbelievable. Myles gave me the perfect ball. It's 70% him and 30% me. Christos was one of the best players on the pitch today. It's close to perfection this kind of performance.'
Looking Ahead
Arsenal will now begin their Premier League title defence this Friday against Championship champions Coventry City. The Community Shield victory serves as a warning to their rivals, with the Gunners showing they are ready to compete for major honours again. The win was deserved, according to many observers, and sets up an intriguing season ahead.
