Gary Lineker has now been sharing what he told former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after the announcement of his revolutionary new offside rule. 

In his position as Chief of Global Football Development at FIFA, Wenger has now spearheaded a rule change that could reportedly be in place in the coming seasons.

Under Wenger’s new proposal, there must be clear daylight between the attacker and a defender for any offside offence to occur.

If any part of the attacker’s body, which they can use to score, is in line with the last defender – be it a toe or shoulder, the attacker is then considered onside.

It’s a dramatic change, and perhaps one that the likes of Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez will enjoy.

If the law comes to fruition then it will surely lead to an increase in goals, with strikers then able to sit right on the edge of any high-line.

Perhaps the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, who play with notoriously high defence, will have to adjust their approach significantly – a rule change that would alter the norm.

That being said, when speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Lineker shared the concerns he expressed to Wenger.

Gary Lineker thinks Arsene Wenger’s new offside law will just lead to more low-blocks

Speaking on the podcast, Lineker initially explained his doubts: “I was part of a panel when this was discussed with Arsene Wenger and I had my doubts at the time.

“I said I worry that teams will defend very deep now, because particularly on free-kicks and stuff because if you’ve got a line, all you’ve got to do is keep your toe slightly onside.

“So I can see problems with it, teams will adapt, but my fear is we’ll get more low blocks – which is not what we want.

“On the other hand we might get a load more goals from free-kicks but I think the glory of football, the beauty of football is the value of a goal – that’s what makes that explosion of joy and emotion, when your team scores it’s so important.

“But if there’s a load more goals, would that take anything away?”

Lineker suggested his own free-kick rule change to Wenger

Sharing what he said to Wenger about his offside proposal, Lineker actually then suggested a new rule of his own.

He added: “I remember that meeting I said ‘Arsene, this just seems like doing something for something’s sake’.

“I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with the offside law, it’s just the VAR thing when we’re measuring down from arms and shoulders, you should maybe make it just feet.

“But I said one good rule change that you could actually make, that would make a difference to the game is the allowance of players to take free-kicks as quickly as they possibly can – stops that professional foul nonsense in the middle of the pitch.”

In fairness, Lineker’s suggestion does appear to be a good one – a rule that would reward quick-thinking players, and punish those who are seeking to ‘kill’ a game.

Of course, the controversy just lays with Wenger’s offside proposal – would that have been a rule he would have wanted in place whilst Arsenal boss?

Sure, the likes of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka may have benefitted back in the day, but teams would then be so much more reluctant to do anything other than defend when away to a ‘big’ side.

Away from offside talk, Arsenal potentially have a chance to sign the biggest English talent since Declan Rice this summer.