Roy Keane has made his judgement on Arsenal's disallowed goal in the first half of their Premier League fixture at Man United amid Martin Odegaard debate.
The Gunners came into this game week 6 fixture knowing that another three points would consolidate their Premier League title challengers status after an electric start to 2022/23. Up till this weekend, the north Londoners had won their first five fixtures of the season, sitting top of the table ahead of the likes of heavy favourites and reigning champions Man City.
The Citizens had dropped more points prior to this Super Sunday fixture with their 1-1 draw at Villa Park on the Saturday Night Football but after the first 45 minutes at proceedings at Old Trafford, it looked as though Mikel Arteta's side would fail to capitalise on the opportunity that presented itself. Antony had given the Red Devils the lead on his debut with a cute finish to end a sweeping attack in the 35th minute but the 1-0 score could have easily been the other way round if VAR would have interpreted what Odegaard did in a different light.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker agrees with Alan Shearer on Gabriel Martinelli VAR decision for Arsenal vs Man Utd
12 minutes in, Arsenal's number 8 forcefully dispossessed Christian Eriksen in the middle of the pitch. From that turnover in possession, the current Premier League table toppers worked the ball into Gabriel Martinelli who thought he had given his side an invaluable lead in Manchester.
However, after a VAR consultation, referee Paul Tierney did a U-turn on his initial decision after some consultation to rule the goal out. A decision which led to Arsenal fans serenading the referee in question with some light-hearted chants that had a twinge of Man Utd bias to them.
At half-time, the main debate was whether or not Tierney was right to listen to VAR in a week that the technology has been criticised heavily for decisions in multiple fixtures during this game week including the Chelsea vs West Ham clash. Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink reckons the VAR and Tierney were right to give the decision against the Gunners on this occasion. An opinion that was contradicted by United icon Keane who offered his verdict on what he saw.
He told Sky Sports: Yeah it’s soft, of course. But what helps United, Odegaard doesn’t get a touch on the ball. We’ve played in a different era, it’s not a foul but in today’s game, you get touched [and it’s a foul]. They’re all doing it, a few times in the game players are staying down when they’re touched - I don’t like to see it. But the way the games going, it is a foul.
Bukayo Saka levelled midway through the second half but that joy felt in the away end only lasted six minutes or so as Bruno Fernandes' through ball was pounced upon by the revitalised Marcus Rashford who continued to demonstrate the new player he has become under Erik ten Hag with his neat finish to follow on from his Liverpool goal.
Arsenal fans - Was VAR right to overturn the disallowed goal in the first half? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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