BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal sent new referee verdict for Gabriel Martinelli goal vs Southampton as Premier League told VAR mistake made – PGMOL asked for the match to be replayed or the points to be shared
Arsenal’s goal to take the lead against Southampton at the weekend should have been ruled out for offside, according to former Premier League referee Mark Halsey.
The Gunners overcame a scare for the second week running at the Emirates Stadium when Southampton took the lead in the second half through Cameron Archer. But Arsenal weren’t behind for long with Kai Havertz equalising three minutes later.
In the 68th minute, Arsenal completed the turnaround with Gabriel Martinelli giving Mikel Arteta’s side the lead. The goal was checked by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for a potential offside, but the goal was awarded.
Explaining the decision on the Premier League Match Centre X (formerly Twitter) account, the Premier League said: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by the VAR as Martinelli was in an onside position and deemed that Merino had no impact on the play.”
However, Halsey does not agree with the decision. While it was right that Martinelli was not offside, he argues that Mikel Merino, who was in an offside position, had an impact on goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Speaking on The Sun’s The Whistle Blower, the former referee said: “I have to say I thought it was offside because, like you say, you’re offside if you challenge an opponent for the ball, or clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when the action impacts on an opponent, making an obvious action which clearly impacts the ability of the opponent to play the ball.
“So, if you’re looking at law 11, offside, technically he was offside because he did challenge the ball. He did go and jump and then duck his head and then it clearly impacted on Aaron Ramsdale because he thinks he’s going to make that challenge, obviously win the ball, but he ducks at the last moment and then leaves it for Martinelli.
“So, for me, I think that should have been disallowed that goal because it was clearly offside. He clearly made an attempt to play the ball.”
A goal from Bukayo Saka in the 88th minute saw Arsenal come out as 3-1 winners over Southampton. The result leaves them in third place in the Premier League table, on the same points as Manchester City and just one behind leaders Liverpool.
