While Hatem Ben Ara’s injury will only add to Nigel de Jong’s growing reputation as a midfield enforcer, video of today’s tackle at Eastlands shows an aggressive but not necessarily dirty play:
Video: Hatem Ben Afra Injured In Tackle By Nigel De Jong
Whether this kind of aggressive - and the disregard it may show for other's safety - is dirty is the heart of the debate surrounding this style of play. Michael Essien, not thought a dirty player, had arguably a worse tackle on Abou Diaby in the Chelsea-Arsenal match. Neither man was punished, and Diaby went uninjured.
Perhaps de Jong (and Ben Arfa) were unlucky that this challenge resulted in a potentially serious injury.
You decide, and let us know. Let the comments be your voice. Was the de Jong tackle dirty? Or merely “hard-nosed?”
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