Arsenal equaliser vs Tottenham should not have stood rage fans who claim Spurs were ‘ROBBED’ after ref misses incident
ARSENAL’s equaliser against Tottenham to make the score 1-1 in the North London derby should NOT have stood, fans have raged.
Spurs took the lead at the Emirates through a deflected Son Heung-Min strike from a corner.
But 15 minutes later the Gunners hit back through a corner of their own as Gabriel Magalhaes‘ far post header back across goal was accidentally bundled into the net by Spurs striker Dominic Solanke.
However, replays showed the corner should have never have been given.
Leandro Trossard and Pedro Porro were tussling for the ball and replays revealed that the final touch came off the Arsenal star.
But the officials missed the moment and instead gave the Gunners a corner, mistakenly thinking Porro was the last to touch the ball.
Taking to social media, there was a huge outcry of injustice from fans.
One viewer said: “They gave THIS as a corner that resulted in the goal…”
A second said: “Arsenal getting all the decisions again tonight. Should never have been a corner.”
A third said: “IT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN A CORNER, TOTTENHAM HAVE BEEN ROBBED!”
Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham
By Dan King
ARSENAL came from behind to defeat Tottenham 2-1 in the North London derby.
Son Heung-Min had given the visitors the lead in the 25th minute against the run of play.
But as they have done so often, the Gunners scored from a corner as Gabriel Magalhaes‘ header was bundled in as an own goal by Dominic Solanke.
Leandro Trossard then put the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time with an fine finish.
Here’s how the players rated…
David Raya – 6
Spectator until kept out Kulusevski shot midway through first half, then beaten by deflection for Son goal. Didn’t make a save in second half.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Solid enough defensively to keep Son Heung-Min mostly quiet but less sure of himself going forward, wasting good chances to cross.
William Saliba – 6
Untroubled until Son’s shot went in off him. Started second half hesitantly but kept his concentration to minimise Tottenham openings.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 8
Brilliant interception to deny Solanke then decisive at other end to force equaliser. Excellent against Solanke twice more in calm and steadfast second half.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8
Fine pass to play in Sterling set tone for excellent, mature, all-round display from second youngest Arsenal player to start a North London derby.
Thomas Partey – 7
Strong presence who won the ball back well, not least ahead of Arsenal’s second goal. But sometimes looked vulnerable to Spurs’ pace on break.
Declan Rice – 7
Covered lots of ground and finally found a good set-piece delivery to create equaliser. Still not quite at his best, but much closer.
Raheem Sterling – 5
Saw plenty of ball, but with little end product, including golden chances at start of both halves. Curiously reluctant to take on his man. Deservedly hooked.
Martin Odegaard – 6
Prompted and probed without finding killer pass but released Trossard for second goal. Missed chance to make it 3-1, fewer signs of return to form than Rice.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Frustrated home fans with lack of killer instinct and poor decisions until he fired Arsenal in front. Did little after break to merit staying on for so long.
Kai Havertz – 4
Barely involved first half apart from nicking ball off Spurs keeper Kinsky. Headed wide from close range early in second. Nothing coming off for him.
SUBS
Gabriel Martinelli (for Sterling, 61) – 5
Slow to get up to speed and contributed little apart from one penetrating run into the box and a blocked shot.
Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 77) – 6
Brought on to shore things up and did it well enough.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly, 87) – 6
Useful legs for dying minutes, almost created chance.
Mikel Merino (for Rice, 87) – 6
Good booking to stop Solanke getting away in stoppage time.
Another said: “Arsenal just stole the first goal. Clearly Trossard touched the ball.”
A fifth added: “How is the ref stood in that position and still misses that it’s come off Trossard, that decision has changed the game, not a chance we get anything from this now.”
Arsenal icon Martin Keown spoke about the incident at half-time, but largely glossed over the incident by saying “it’s a corner because the ref gave it,” to the ire of more fans.
One wrote: “Martin Keown it is a corner because the referee gave it … Just imagine if that happened at the other end & spurs scored he would be going mental.”
A second said: “‘It’s a corner because the referee gave it’. Martin Keown ladies and gents.”
A third added: “Martin Keown, I beg. Just try to give an impartial opinion about Arsenal one time!”
Ex-Prem referee Mark Halsey's view
SPURS will be fuming over the corner which led to Arsenal’s equaliser.
I felt it was a clear goal kick when Leandro Trossard’s cross came off Pedro Porro and back off the Gunners wideman before the ball went out of play.
Referee Simon Hooper must have lost concentration because he was in a great position and looking straight at the ball.
Hooper was on that side of the field unlike his assistant and a referee at that level should be seeing it.
Arsenal took full advantage and levelled at 1-1 from the resulting corner when Gabriel’s header went in off Dominic Solanke.
It was a turning point in the match and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has had a few decisions go against him so this will not improve his mood.
Trossard, at the centre of all Arsenal positivity in the opening half after also skinning Porro and leaving him decked on the floor earlier on, then completed the turnaround by arrowing a strike across goal and into the bottom corner.
Arsenal managed to hold on to clinch a vital 2-1 win.