Gary Neville has given his verdict after Arsenal believed they were unfairly denied after Gabriel Martinelli's eleventh-minute goal was disallowed by VAR and referee Paul Tierney.
The goal was chalked off after it was deemed that Martin Odegaard had committed a foul on Christian Eriksen in the build-up to the goal meaning that the Brazilian's effort would be ruled out. The move came after a positive start from United, but an incisive breakaway from Martinelli looked to have put the Gunners 1-0 up.
The decision proved to be pivotal as United took a 1-0 lead into half-time following a brilliant debut goal from new £85 million signing Antony.
However, in the wake of the goal, Tierney was told to look at the pitchside monitor, which normally means that the on-field decision is to be overturned. This was true in this instance, but Neville said that one one angle the foul in the build-up was 'soft' but that the second angle made it a correct decision.
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Here is what the former United defender had to say before Tierney was asked to look at the monitor: "Well there are complaints, but I thought Eriksen was fairly dispossessed. I don’t think he could see the Man United player that came and got it off him, it’s Odegaard, he just steals it - there’s a little nudge - but it’s something from nothing," he told Sky Sports.
"But I have to say, look at that reaction on the nearside from Martinelli, Martinelli vs Dalot, it’s absolutely devastating from Martinelli. He cuts across Dalot who can’t get back. It might be a foul, it could be that knee that come across…"
However, after viewing the various angles Neville decided that the goal should have been disallowed, saying: "Oh he’s been asked to look at it, it’s going to be disallowed that other angle, that knee it’s a foul. From the other angle it looked really soft but there is that other angle that came out which I think means it will be disallowed… it’s that knee into the side of Eriksen that’s going to cost Arsenal… doesn’t play the ball… he’s a having a good think Paul Tierney.
"I think he’s thinking something maybe different than we seen before, he’s having a good think."
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