- Arsenal fans were left unhappy after referee Anthony Taylor made an error before Bruno Fernandes' free-kick
- Fernandes solved the stalemate during the Premier League match between the two teams at Old Trafford on March 9.
- Declan Rice later equalized for Mikel Arteta's side to salvage a point, but lost further ground in the 2024/2025 title chase.
Manchester United fought hard to earn a 1-1 tie with Arsenal in an exciting match at Old Trafford on Sunday evening.
Declan Rice scored a precise goal in the second half, neutralizing Bruno Fernandes' impressive free-kick in the first half.
The hosts gave a good account of themselves, keeping a team that had no striker on the field from Arsenal at bay for most of the game. They could have easily won the match if not for the impressive performance of David Raya in the Arsenal goal.
The game was, however, not without its share of controversy, with both sides feeling that a couple of decisions were made against them unfairly.
Fernandes' free-kick just before the half-time break was as spectacular as one might see, but much discussion has centered on how Arsenal organized themselves. Alejandro Garnacho won the setpiece just outside the area after he was fouled by Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal's decision to set up a free-kick wall against Manchester United was a tactical error.
Referee Anthony Taylor instructed the visiting team on where to position their wall. However, despite the presence of tall players like Riccardo Calafiori in the wall, Fernandes was still able to identify a precise spot to score the remarkable goal.
Replays have now revealed that Arsenal were unfairly disadvantaged by the placement of the wall, as it was positioned 11.2 yards away from the free-kick spot. This, according to the Laws of the Game, constitutes a clear infraction of the regulations in place.
"Until the ball is in play, all opponents must stay at least 29.5 feet away from the ball, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts," reads part of the rulebook.
The decision has left fans online discussing,
Arsenal's performance is truly disappointing. The team is not creating many scoring opportunities, often failing to get even within 10 yards of the opponent's goal. If they were just a half-step forward, they might be able to get a shot on goal, but as it stands, their chances are being consistently blocked. I'm extremely frustrated with the team's lack of fight and it's starting to look like the Premier League will be a highly competitive top 5 finish.
@Nicklo2 said,
A wall positioned more than 11 yards back after the kick was taken. A wasted opportunity for the referee to place the wall at a reasonable distance, allowing Bruno a chance. If the wall had been 10 yards away, the ball would likely have been deflected off a player's head in the wall. A goal that didn't deserve to be scored and an outright injustice.
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The anomaly was not detected in real time by the officials to allow the changes before Fernandes took the free-kick, but it was observed by Christian Eriksen.
"I noticed it early. Even before they kicked off, I realized how far they were behind," admitted the Dane to Sky Sports.
It's great that the wall was approximately 15 meters away, making it an ideal spot for him to place it.
Mikel Arteta: Football is indeed a game that requires intelligence.
After the match, Mikel Arteta praised Fernandes for his cleverness in exploiting a weakness in his team's defense.
"They're saying that if Bruno took advantage of that situation, then football is for smart players who can outsmart the referee and the game. I don't know what to make of it, but he did take advantage of it and scored a goal, so they're celebrating it as a clever move. Football is a game of strategy and wit," he said.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, such matters are not within the jurisdiction of the Video Assistant Referee and Fernandes' seventh goal of the season was validated.