Arsenal told winner vs Tottenham should NOT have stood as match footage reviewed
The goal has caused significant controversy.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Paul Merson, VAR, Gabriel Magalhaes
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Paul Merson, VAR, Gabriel Magalhaes
Paul Merson has revealed he expected Arsenal's North London derby winner to be ruled out after rewatching the incident.
As has often been the case for Arsenal in recent years, they walked away from their arch-rivals backyard with all three points.
The win means Mikel Arteta's side have beaten Spurs at their new ground more since it opened than Spurs have managed at The Emirates since 2006.
Arsenal now extend their unbeaten start to the season despite the absence of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard through suspension and injury.
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Gabriel Magalhaes scored the only goal of the game on 68 minutes which finally broke the deadlock after an even first hour between the two sides despite no real clear cut chances.
The Brazilian rose highest to head home from Bukayo Saka's corner, but Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believed the goal should have been ruled out for a foul on Cristian Romero.
However, the former Gunner stressed that Romero has to still take the blame for the goal due to his poor defending.
“I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get a foul,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I’d be disappointed. He’s in the wrong position, everything is wrong about his defending.
“He’s a centre-half, he’s an international, even I know - and I don’t even play at the back - that you’ve got to be side-on. You’ve got to be seeing the ball and your player.
“To start off with you’ve got to be a hand length away, and he’s standing with him. I do think... I’d expect a foul. I would expect a foul.”
There was no significant VAR check following the goal, and no real complaints from the Spurs defence, however, Merson wasn't alone with fans online also claiming the goal shouldn't have stood.
Following the match Son Heung-min told Sky Sports that his side were unlucky to lose the match based on their performance, but the Spurs captain admitted they needed to improve.
“We dominated the game, the football was there, we just conceded from a set-piece again,” the South Korean international explained.
“We did it last season and it is really frustrating. I am sure the fans are also very disappointed. We have to improve, 100%, it’s a tough moment and we have to stick together."