Mikel Arteta was left baffled as to why Ivan Toney’s equaliser for Brentford against Arsenal wasn’t given as offside after it dented their title charge.
The Spaniard was certain after watching Toney cancel out Leandro Trossard’s opener that Ethan Pinnock was blocking Gabriel from doing his defensive duties while in an offside position – which he believes should’ve been flagged.
A disappointed Arteta told Sky Sports after the game: “If we apply what the referee tells us every single week before the game. If you are the blocker then you are offside.
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“(They say) It’s offside. It will be offside.”
Peter Bankes was the man in charge of the fixture, with former Premier League referee Lee Mason on VAR duties with the support of Adrian Holmes.
Arsenal fans were in agreement with their manager on Twitter, with the Gunners now sitting six points clear of Manchester City whom they still have to play twice.
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(Image: Twitter)
Fury also stemmed from the positioning of Christian Norgaard, who some of the home support also should’ve been flagged for involvement from offside.
One comment read: “Where’s offside lines? Arsenal robbed. VAR is a joke.”
A second added: “Didn’t deserve to win but this is as blatant an offside as you get. Arsenal have been robbed again.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Brentford boss Thomas Frank then said of the incident: “When they kick the ball, Ethan is in an offside position. The next question is, ‘Did he interfere enough?’
“They decided no – and I agree!”
Arsenal fans have also bemoaned the return of the ‘February curse’ with just a single point taken from fixtures against Everton and now Brentford in the title race.
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