Debunking some of the myths created by the #Gunners fans after the #MUNARS game. The myths I will debunk are -
1 #MUFC scored all their goals on the counter
2 #Arsenal dominated the game and didn't counter
3 #MUFC players got away with fouls/cards
4 VAR can't check Eriksen foul
1. #MUFC didn't score all their goals on the counter. Only the second goal they scored was on the counter. The 1st goal involved 18 passes & almost 1 minute of buildup play starting with a throw in & ending with vertical pass from Eriksen & stretching the entire Arsenal backline.
The third goal again begins from a throw in inside our own half and ends with Bruno playing a delightful through ball to Eriksen and exposing the lack of defensive organisation of the Arsenal backline.
2. Ironically the two times Arsenal managed to put the ball in the back of our net are counter attacking move by them. For the first disallowed goal, Martin Ødegaard fouls Eriksen at the half way line and they win back the possession and score with Dalot out of possession.
For the Saka goal, Varane loses possession in his own after a bad pass and Arsenal win the ball back again and counter attack with Varane out of possession. So the only two goals they scored were counter attacking plays from them while United scored two from their own throw-ins.
Arsenal dominated the possession of the ball but it doesn't mean domination of the game as various managers have found out in the past. United had twice as many shots on target, more big chances created and looked more likely to score than Arsenal ever did.
3. Now coming to the fouls/cards Arsenal got away with.
Firstly Jesus gets away with a kick out at Martinez in the 39th minute.
Sambi Lokonga gets away with a red card challenge on Bruno Fernandes. Studs showing and endangering the opponent. Still not even a foul or yellow.
Gabriel has three fouls and two of them should be yellows at least. For the first goal he takes down Bruno and refs play advantage without booking him later. He then has two fouls on Rashford in the first half. One of them isn't called a foul the other adv is played.
For the 3rd goal he brings down Ronaldo and advantage is played but the ref again doesn't book him.
Saka gets away with a dive in the first half and a borderline orange card worthy tackle on Malacia at the end of second half out of frustration.
Ben white gets away with a kick out at Marcus Rashford after he scores the third.
4. I have even seen some Arsenal fans claim that VAR can't intervene and go back to the phase of play when possession of the ball is gained. But that is factually incorrect. Here is the snippet from the IFAB rules mentioning the same.
And for those comparing the Brighton game foul to the one on Eriksen it is pretty evident that one is a 50-50 shoulder challenge which is allowed when vying for the ball whereas the Ødegaard one is a push on the back with no intention to play the ball. There was no touch on ball.
Hopefully all of this clears up any of the delusion Arsenal fans may have after the game about controlling the game, counter attacks and VAR and referring performance.
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