Arsenal’s assistant coach Aaron D’Antino conducted post-match media duties and explained that, while the intention was for Williamson to take the goal-kick, they will use the incident as a learning experience.<\/p>\n
“If we’re looking at what we can control, it’s just passing the ball to Leah from what I remember seeing. The ball was still rolling and she [Rodriguez] was moving it to Leah for her to take the goal-kicks as we normally do,” said D’Antino.<\/p>\n
“So maybe the learning in that is how we get the ball to Leah, so we don’t put ourselves in that situation.”<\/p>\n
Former Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie felt the referee Iuliana Demetrescu got the decision wrong, despite the correct applications of the laws.<\/p>\n
“For me, I just don’t even know how that happens. Leah knows it’s a goal-kick, she’s catching the ball. That’s shocking from the referee,” Beattie told Paramount+.<\/p>\n
“I would have been fuming and I would have been embarrassed if they gave that. This is not what they’re trying to do. It’s just beyond frustrating that that’s how they’ve tied the game.<\/p>\n
“Leah’s obviously going [to do that] because she’s going to take the goal-kick, not because she’s worried about the press or trying to change it – or panicking in any situation. Leah Williamson doesn’t panic in those moments, she knows what she’s doing. The goalkeeper knows what she’s doing as well. <\/p>\n
“The referee has miscalled it.”<\/p>\n