GUNNERS legend Tony Adams is calling for a crackdown on grappling at set-pieces.
Adams accepts such methods were used in his era — but argues they have “gone too far” today.
The ex-centre-back’s old club Arsenal lead the way in maximising dead balls.
But the former Gunners captain said: “The levels of set-pieces — and the contacts and blocks — it’s just gone too far.
“I was talking the other day about 1993 when ‘the donkey won the derby’ [in the FA Cup semi-final].
“Andy Linighan runs to block Spurs’ Neil Ruddock and I go around the back — free, bang, in you go.
“I’ve scored the header and in the FA Cup final, I’ve blocked for Andy and he got the winner against Sheffield Wednesday.
“Viv Anderson taught me how to do it when he came from Forest.
“He used to take people out. We had a competition in the ’89 season. He got five. I think I got six. We blocked for each other.
“But now, if you’re teaching defenders how to defend from corners… it used to be ball, player.
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“Now it’s just about grabbing hold of you.”
Arsenal head to City today desperately requiring a victory to get their title charge back on track.
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Mikel Arteta needs his big players to step up and Adams has spoken glowingly about Declan Rice.
Adams called for Rice to be made captain at the start of this season — not Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners icon felt the team, missing injured Odegaard, lacked leadership in their 2-0 Carabao Cup final loss to City.
Adams added: “You’re looking at Bernardo Silva with his relationship with Pep [Guardiola].
“You could just see that chemistry there and a leader. I didn’t see the same with Arsenal.”
