Arsenal news: Martin Odegaard has expressed his disagreement with the referee’s decision to rule out the goal Gabriel Martinelli scored during their loss to Manchester United.
Arsenal’s perfect start to the season came to an end at Old Trafford when Man Utd inflicted a 3-1 defeat on the league leaders. The Gunners had entered the game with a 100% winning record in the 22/23 PL season, with five wins from five games. However, they were unable to maintain that record as Man Utd emerged victorious.
The result might have been different had referee Paul Tierney not ruled out a Martinelli goal in the 11th minute of the match. Arsenal thought they had taken the lead when Martinelli found the back of the net with an expert strike.
Odegaard stripped Christian Eriksen to start the play that led to Arsenal’s goal. However, VAR advised referee Paul Tierney to watch the replay to check for a possible foul. Tierney ruled out the goal after he ruled that Odegaard had fouled Eriksen in the build-up to the goal.
Arsenal news: ‘It’s never a foul’ – Martin Odegaard
Speaking after the match, Odegaard insisted the goal should have stayed and that it barely touched Eriksen.
“In my opinion, it’s never a foul,” the Arsenal midfielder said. “For me, it’s very, very smooth. On camera, you can always make it look a little worse. It’s frustrating.
“I barely touched it, they keep saying this is the Premier League and they want it to be physical. I don’t understand how he can go back.”
Meanwhile, it was Antony who finally broke the deadlock at Old Trafford. Antony, who was making his Man Utd debut, turned the ball into the far corner after receiving a pass from Marcus Rashford.
Arsenal would equalize on the hour of play, with Bukayo Saka restoring parity. However, Man Utd took the lead again just six minutes later. Bruno Fernandes sent a delicious ball up the middle and Rashford ran to him and expertly finished it past Aaron Ramsdale.
Rashford would score again in the 75th minute to make it 3-1 for Man Utd. Fernandes played an exquisite pass around the Arsenal defense and Eriksen timed his run perfectly to receive the ball. The Danish midfielder would square it off against Rashford, who conceded it on goal.
Despite the defeat, Arsenal remain top of the league, with 15 points from six games. They are one point ahead of Man City, who sit second.
Meanwhile, Man Utd moved into fifth place in the table, with 12 points from six games.
