In a thrilling Premier League encounter at the Emirates, Arsenal’s hopes of securing a crucial victory over Manchester United were dashed in a 3-2 defeat, but it was a controversial moment involving Harry Maguire that left Arsenal fans fuming.
The Controversial Handball Incident
In the 73rd minute, with the game tied at 2-2, Arsenal was denied a penalty when Harry Maguire appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area. The incident occurred when Mikel Merino’s shot was blocked by the Manchester United defender, and replays showed the ball clearly striking Maguire’s outstretched arm.
Despite the clear evidence from the replay, referee Michael Oliver and the VAR decided against awarding a penalty, much to the frustration of the Arsenal players and supporters. Arsenal’s assistant coaches were visibly upset on the bench, and fans quickly took to social media to voice their discontent.
Arsenal Video posted: “Clear handball from Maguire, but no penalty. His hand even caused the ball to bounce off the pitch. How can it not be a handball?”
Meanwhile, Coopdeville added, “HANDBALL. Any talk about the player bracing himself is nonsense. This is a clear goal-scoring chance denied by Maguire’s hand.”
Why Maguire Wasn’t Penalized: The Rule Behind the Decision
So why did the referee and VAR not penalize Maguire for the handball?
According to the laws of the game, a handball is not considered an offence if the ball strikes a player’s hand/arm while they are using it as a supporting arm—i.e., when it is placed on the ground to help break the player’s fall.
In this case, replays showed that Maguire was on his way down, and his hand was extended to support his balance during the fall. Under these circumstances, the incident did not meet the threshold for a handball offence as per the FIFA rules.
Arsenal’s Disappointment
Despite the ruling, many Arsenal fans believe that the decision was a crucial moment in the game. Had the penalty been awarded, Arsenal could have taken the lead in what was a tightly contested match. As it stands, the Gunners went on to lose 3-2 to a resurgent Manchester United, with Matheus Cunha scoring the decisive goal late in the match.
Match Highlights and Other Key Moments
Lisandro Martínez’s own goal put Arsenal ahead in the 30th minute.
Bryan Mbeumo equalized for United seven minutes later, capitalizing on an error by Martin Zubimendi.
Patrick Dorgu scored a stunning goal after halftime to give United the lead.
Mikel Merino brought Arsenal back into the game with a goal in the 84th minute, but Matheus Cunha’s late strike sealed all three points for United.
What This Means for Arsenal’s Title Hopes
This defeat was a major blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations. With the loss, Michael Carrick’s men climbed to within touching distance of the top spots, leaving Arsenal with more work to do as they chase their first title since 2004.
The controversy surrounding the penalty decision will likely linger, but the result underlined Arsenal’s need to bounce back quickly and ensure that they don’t drop more crucial points in the tight race for the Premier League crown.
