More VAR controversy in the Premier League
Arsenal were given a controversial penalty after Eddie Nketiah thought he had scored a second against Manchester United on Saturday.
The Gunners were leading 1-0 at the time after Nuno Tavares’ early opener as he got on the end of Bukayo Saka’s saved effort from David De Gea.
Despite both defences showing frailties , it was Mikel Arteta’s side who thought they had doubled their advantage at the Emirates Stadium.
Get Maguire on pic.twitter.com/dskiBgdMMb
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 23, 2022
Eddie Nketiah initially thought he had put Arsenal 2-0 up
Martin Odegaard’s clipped through ball found the path of Saka, who was nudged by United full-back Alex Telles, before the ball fell to Nketiah.
With all the time and space in the world, the forward comfortably slotted past De Gea to put Arsenal two clear ahead of Ralf Rangnick’s side.
Nketiah’s celebrations were soon muted however after VAR was called in to check for a possible offside. After confirming that the forward was offside, VAR then began to look for a possible penalty shout.
Only this United side could have a goal against them struck off by VAR but concede a penalty in the same review pic.twitter.com/JAOKkuq5bX
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 23, 2022
Despite the forward’s goal being ruled out, Arsenal were then awarded a penalty
At first it looked as if it was nothing more than an unavoidable challenge from Telles however referee Craig Pawson was advised by the VAR official Jarred Gillet to go and look at the on-screen monitor.
When this happens you normally know what the outcome is going to be and lo and behold, Pawson awarded a spot-kick to the Gunners, despite major protests from the away side.
Although Nketiah scored the initial second it was Saka, who was deemed to have been fouled by Telles, who stepped up to score from 12 yards and convert his second penalty in as many games.
United players continued to protest but soon found their way back into the game as Cristiano Ronaldo converted his 100th Premier League goal almost immediately to half the deficit and give the Red Devils a chance of salvaging something in north London.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 100th Premier League goal to get United back in it pic.twitter.com/FB6Ackqfwi
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 23, 2022
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- Jamie Carragher tells Man Utd targets Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham to ‘run a mile’
