Saliba fortune not to concede a penalty?published at 12:01 British Summer Time
12:01 BST
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United felt they should have had a penalty for a William Saliba challenge on Matheus Cunha in the second half at Old Trafford.
Matthijs de Ligt’s cross-shot went low across the box and as Cunha attempted to flick the ball goalwards, Saliba came through to make the tackle.
The Arsenal defender went to ground and appeared to make contact with Cunha’s standing leg before getting the ball but the referee waved it away and, after a VAR check, the on-field decision stood.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: “I wasn’t convinced it was a penalty.
“I wasn’t convinced it was a foul but even it is was, it’s
not one that VAR will intervene.
“Cunha drops back into him. If he’s fouled, would he not go
forward? I wouldn’t give a foul.”
But former Coventry, Cardiff and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo striker Jay Bothroyd disagreed.
“He’s gone through Cunha’s left foot, he hasn’t got the ball,” he said.
“It should be a penalty. It would be a foul anywhere else on the field.”
Should it have been a penalty? Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.