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THE moment of Arsenal's win over West Brom yesterday was Santi Cazorla going over to win the first of Arsenal's two penalties. Replays showed that the Spaniard may have gone down a tad easily, or to be frank, dived.

Fans weren't happy, the media weren't happy. Arsene Wenger had this to say:

"I spoke to Santi and he said he felt contact. I will have a look at it and if it looks like there wasn't I will have a word with him".

Frenzy

This didn't stop him being labeled 'Tom Daley' by newspapers, who also claimed that Wenger had refused to criticise Cazorla for his dive.

His actions were called 'disgraceful' and 'the dive of the season'.

The level of coverage seemed oddly disproportionate compared to what he'd done.

It took Gareth Bale months to get a reputation, as with Ashley Young.

As ever foreign players seem more likely to be labeled as cheats that British media darlings.

First time

I personally wouldn't call Cazorla a diver. That's the first time he's dived to win a penalty, even back to his La Liga days.

If he repeats it then perhaps things might be different.

His team needed points and he did what he needed to.

Disappointing, but there you go.

Don't forget that a certain Robert Pires liked to go down every so often too....

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Comments  

#21 FUCKuRVP 2012-12-11 16:24
admit he dived but a diver is.. ASHLEY YOUNG THAT KNOB HAS THE DIVE OF THE CENTURY AGAINST VILLA!!
+1 #20 Jon 2012-12-11 05:59
That is not call dive , it call an art to win ugly...
#19 docbrody 2012-12-10 21:24
In the video I see the toe of the boot make contact with Santi's shin below the shin guard.

But most seem to believe it was a dive. Maybe I'm in denial.
#18 @IHateYouRvP 2012-12-09 20:51
Either way, one dive does not make you a diver. Did he dive? Yeah, probably. You can throw yourself off by anticipating contact incorrectly. Who cares? We won anyway.
+8 #17 seeco 2012-12-09 20:34
Cazorla can quite rightly claim he was attempting to avoid injury by riding a tackle he was sure was on its way.
Rosenberg's attempt was down-right embarassing, and has no excuse. If the media weren't looking to crucify yet another Arsenal player, they'd mention that Rosenberg's actions leave WBA with no moral high-ground.

Arsenal fans will remember the outrageous dive by Rooney at OT that ended our 49 game unbeaten run. Of course the fat little s**t got a free pass after the event from the media, being english and playing for Utd.
+3 #16 Arkadiy 2012-12-09 20:31
The defender took a wild swing at him, missed the ball and caught him on the shin. Penalty. Good decision. Second one was a penalty too. If Stoke had done that to Arsenal, they would have said the defender 'should have been stronger' Well played Oxalade-Chamberlain.
-1 #15 Adah, Nigeria 2012-12-09 19:40
While I do not support actions like that, my pain is the tag this foreign imports are labeled with. British players have well documented actions like this but I have not seen one maligned and discussed like their foreign counterparts. What I want the British press to know is that these foreign imports bring the glamour to the premier league but if they would not heed to my warnings of respecting beings as they are and decided to override their luck, then they will one day report news of a ruined league.
#14 Adah, Nigeria 2012-12-09 19:40
While I do not support actions like that, my pain is the tag this foreign imports are labeled with. British players have well documented actions like this but I have not seen one maligned and discussed like their foreign counterparts. What I want the British press to know is that these foreign imports bring the glamour to the premier league but if they would not heed to my warnings of respecting beings as they are and decided to override their luck, then they will one day report news of a ruined league.
-1 #13 Adah, Nigeria 2012-12-09 19:39
While I do not support actions like that, my pain is the tag this foreign imports are labeled with. British players have well documented actions like this but I have not seen one maligned and discussed like their foreign counterparts. What I want the British press to know is that these foreign imports bring the glamour to the premier league but if they would not heed to my warnings of respecting beings as they are and decided to override their luck, then they will one day report news of a ruined league.
+2 #12 kayarda 2012-12-09 19:22
cazorla is not a diver.
+1 #11 Bob 2012-12-09 19:06
Just ask the question he gets hacked all over the field,is there any record of him doing this before not to my knowledge. I dont think he dived in the way other players do. I just think he was taking evasive action from a wild swing did he get touched 50/50 but then lost his balance.
-2 #10 dik 2012-12-09 18:41
A.ramsey was not played. the win is as expected. the performance was much better than previous. i can say the only reason arsenal win because the mentioned f****r is not played.
+2 #9 Dylan M 2012-12-09 18:29
Maybe he was just "anticipating the tackle" The excuse works for Gareth Bale even with his four yellows for simulation. Yet Cazorla goes over easy in the box ONCE and he's made out to be the NEW SUAREZ! Guess everyone missed the Markus Rosenberg dive in the closing stages. No one seems to going on about that one eh? What's that about?
+1 #8 ze gunners 2012-12-09 17:42
i love how this is a debate when man u just preaches diving to every single player
+9 #7 #4 EZ 2012-12-09 17:12
I believe there was contact, the defender's foot nicks santi's foot and just below the shin pad, not too much contact but its there. Any player who feels that will go down, Santi is not a diver like Suarez .
+8 #6 Jesse 2012-12-09 16:41
Actually saw a photo that showed it had contact, but no he's not a diver. THEN you can call him a diver when he does like Suarez vs Stoke etc...imo he exaggerated that falling down but still, Santi isnt a diver :)
+8 #5 TT 2012-12-09 16:38
I can see the Brom players's boot glace off his shin pad in the replay. I also notice that the contact was enough to throw the defender off-balance as well as Cazorla. I am sure Cazorla could have stayed on his feet, but if we are going to slay him for that, then every player in every game is guilty of diving.
+11 #4 deey 2012-12-09 16:23
doesnt matter what ever they may called him, we just know that santi is a great player,so this doesnt make any difference.we love u santi
+5 #3 Arch2 2012-12-09 16:14
I wouldn't say he's a diver, Bail, Rooney,Suarez, Young, Gerrard these players are the masters when it comes to throwing themselves 3-4-5 times every game week in & week out so if Santi threw himself once in 4 1/2
Months , I wouldn't label him as a diver!!
+6 #2 DocBrody 2012-12-09 16:01
I think he got nicked right below the shin gaurd. That can be surprisingly painfull by the way.
+3 #1 Gaz 2012-12-09 15:58
I don't think he's a serial diver (Re: Bale Suarez, Young). But he clearly dived. I just hope he doesn't make a habit of it.