Arsenal legend: Man Utd star has been a cheat for years and he needs to be banned

Ashley Young has been accused of being a serial diver by Arsenal legend Martin Keown

MARTIN KEOWN has hit out at Manchester United winger Ashley Young for what appeared to be a dive in their victory over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.

 

Young was bearing down on goal before going over in the box theatrically despite minimal contact.

It is not the first time the England international has been accused of diving and Keown has urged the powers that be to stamp it out by taking a hard line.

"He’s been doing it for years," the Arsenal legend told The Daily Mail.

"As a defender you are appalled by that kind of thing. That’s where I’ve always felt the Premier League could do more in terms of retrospective action.

"I’ve said before that if a player is seen to dive they should get a one game ban. 

"Do it again and you get two or three games. That would quickly eradicate the problem because it wouldn’t make the risk worthwhile.

 

Young went over in the box against CSKA Moscow despite minimal contact

"It is cheating, ultimately, and we want honesty and integrity in our game."

Keown is not the first ex-player to have waded in to the debate surrounding Young's on-field conduct.

United legend Roy Keane branded the 30-year-old an "absolute disgrace" in a tirade that questioned his integrity.

"If Ashley Young is a Man United player, I'm a Chinaman," he told ITV Sport. "He is an absolute disgrace.

"The senior players need to get hold of him. That shouldn't be accepted at Manchester United."