FULL TIME:1-1: Premier league FA issues apology to Arsenal as recent Var review overturned City goal for foul in the build up play, confirmed as PGMOL releases official statement this morning
Gary Neville launched into Arsenal just moments into their crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City, with a VAR decision quickly following. The opening incident saw the Gunners nearly surrender possession inside their own box, leaving Neville incensed.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “That could not happen for Arsenal, what the hell are you playing at?
“The one thing that you would say Arsenal cannot do in the first five or ten minutes is play a stupid little pass along their six-yard box and they have gone and done it.”
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Almost immediately within the same attack, Rayan Cherki watched his deflected effort cannon off the post. It was Gabriel Magalhaes who made the crucial touch, with claims of handball raised though penalty appeals were dismissed and the incident subsequently cleared by VAR.
Neville added: “It’s been cleared. He just sort of leans down doesn’t he, Gabriel. Maybe it’s a shoulder, it’s not easy to see what part of the arm/shoulder it is. It’s high up, you can see why they’ve waved it on.”
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Arsenal recovered impressively from their shaky opening but fell behind after 16 minutes when Cherki netted a stunning solo effort.
Their advantage proved fleeting, however, as Kai Havertz capitalised on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s hesitation to clear the ball swiftly shortly afterwards, with his block finding the far corner of an unguarded net. In the build-up to the encounter, Neville discussed a range of subjects with his views on what Arsenal must do made abundantly clear ahead of the fixture.
He said: “You saw what Pep Guardiola did at Chelsea last week and at Wembley in the Carabao Cup game – they came out a different team after half-time.
Pep Guardiola of Manchester City looks on
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Guardiola was left in shock at the equaliser Manchester City conceded to Arsenal
“It wasn’t necessarily a game plan. Arsenal came out so passively in that second half, they were playing passes backwards, playing in their own defensive third today
“They can’t do that today. They have to play high up the pitch and cause their own problems. It’s difficult to play against City. Cherki, Semenyo, Doku in behind Haaland is amassive threat.
“It’s going to be tough for them. But it’s now or never. I don’t like saying that in football, because Arsenal are a great club and will be here for 100 years.
“But for this team, this group, this coach, it does feel like a massive moment in their journeys as football players and how they’ll be viewed in the future.”
