Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has disagreed with ex-referee Peter Walton over the decision to allow Granit Xhaka ’s goal for Arsenal to stand on Saturday. It comes after the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Goals from Nuno Tavares and Bukayo Saka gave the home side a two-goal lead before Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back for the visitors. They were then given a penalty in the second half from a Tavares handball in the box, but Bruno Fernandes saw the post deny him the chance to draw level.
The Gunners took full advantage of the tie as Granit Xhaka’s long-range effort rocketed past David de Gea in the United net. Following the goal, Mikel Arteta said he was "dreaming" of a good reception for the midfielder: "I was dreaming of that because he deserves it. If any fan would individually spend five or 10 minutes with Granit, or even two minutes, because that’s all you need, they would understand the person that he is, the professional that he is and how much he cares about the club. But the history was there."
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Xhaka's display, Saka's injury, Tavares' game and top four
However, despite the goal, there was some controversy over the decision to award it. There was a VAR check afterwards to see if Eddie Nketiah was blocking De Gea's view to allow the shot to get past him.
While the goal was given, former defender and pundit Ferdinand questioned the decision. Speaking on BT Sport, he said: "He [Nketiah] is offside. It is a great strike, an absolute arrow, but when you look at that shot of De Gea looking around that player, surely he is interfering with play.
"He is standing in an offside position, De Gea has to look around the player and he is absolutely in line with the player. If he is having to lean around a player in an offside position then it should be offside."
Former referee Peter Walton then disagreed with Ferdinand’s opinion that it should have been disallowed, giving the reason he believes it stood: "Rio is right in terms of the interference, but the offence is committed if an attacker is right in the sight of the goalkeeper. You can argue that he [De Gea] is looking around him but also [Victor] Lindelof is also there too.
"He begins to look round him but as the ball is struck, it is Lindelof who is in front of De Gea. That player is not necessarily in his line of sight and VAR has looked at it from various angles and they have agreed it was Lindelof who is protecting the ball rather than Nketiah, therefore the goal stands. I am suggesting that VAR has got this one right."
It was a key moment in the game, as the Gunners struggled to keep control of the game in the early stages of the second half. Following it, they cruised to victory in comfortable circumstances.
Next up is a huge match against West Ham for Arteta, with the side still looking to continue their top four pursuit this season.
