The Premier League is being urged to amend its rules due to Arsenal's use of 'time-wasting' tactics.

Brighton's manager Fabian Hurzeler drew attention ahead of the clash with Arsenal by calling for stricter match regulations to limit time-wasting, while also criticizing how the "Gunners" exploit set-piece situations.

Brighton's manager Fabian Hurzeler has created a tense atmosphere ahead of the match against Arsenal, publicly calling for significant changes to the match rules to curb time-wasting. Despite leading the Premier League, Mikel Arteta's team continues to face criticism regarding their match management and set-piece situations. Hurzeler's latest remarks have brought the controversial tactics of the "Gunners" into sharp focus ahead of the encounter at the Amex Stadium.

Arsenal have long been known for their ability to exploit dead-ball situations, which was again evident in their recent victory over Chelsea. Goals from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, both originating from deliveries by Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, helped the London side secure three crucial points. However, their organization of challenges and blocking in the penalty area has also raised questions. Hurzeler believes the inconsistency in how referees handle these situations is becoming a major issue.

Speaking ahead of the match against Arsenal in the 29th round of the Premier League, the German strategist stated: "There are no truly clear regulations regarding blocking or how teams obstruct opponents in the penalty area. Sometimes the referee blows the whistle, sometimes not. Therefore, the most important thing is to have specific rules about the permissible time allowed for situations like corners, throw-ins, or free-kicks."

The Brighton manager is particularly frustrated with how the game is frequently interrupted when one team is leading. According to him, the actual ball-in-play time is significantly reduced, affecting the spectator experience. Hurzeler pointed out that in many instances, Arsenal can take over a minute just to take a corner kick when they are ahead.

He added: "Not many people notice this, but sometimes Arsenal take over a minute just to take a corner when leading. Therefore, clear regulations are needed so that the actual ball-in-play time is around 50 minutes, rather than having matches that last up to 65 minutes where much of the time is interrupted."

The Brighton boss indicated that internal analysis data also shows a significant disparity in ball-in-play time between Premier League matches. He believes fans who pay substantial money to attend matches deserve to witness a game of equivalent quality, rather than long periods of delays.

"Football is changing very rapidly if we don't ensure real playing time. We have analyzed and found the differences are huge. I think every fan who pays to come to the stadium deserves to see the same amount of ball-in-play time. They come to watch a football event, not just 50 minutes of play and 40 minutes of interruptions," Hurzeler emphasized.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old strategist also acknowledged that regulations are unlikely to change immediately. Therefore, Brighton must still adapt to the realities of modern football, especially the importance of set-pieces.

He affirmed: "We won't be able to change the rules right away, so we understand that set-pieces are very important. They can change the course of a match, so Brighton must also utilize them effectively while defending very well."

With such strong statements from Hurzeler, pundits and fans will certainly be watching closely how referees handle Arsenal's set-piece situations in the match at the Amex. As the title race heats up, the tactical battle between the Premier League's youngest manager and the experienced strategist Mikel Arteta promises to deliver a highly strategic contest. And as Hurzeler emphasized, every second that passes during Arsenal's corner kicks will likely be counted more carefully by the stadium crowd than ever before.