Why was Arsenal's goal allowed to stand against Manchester United?

Cristiano Ronaldo Bruno Fernandes Manchester United
(Image credit: Getty)

Arsenal scored against Manchester United with David De Gea on his back in the net. Emile Smith Rowe clearly didn't see the keeper down and he buried the chance. So why was it given?

Essentially, there was no foul.

Fred stood on the Spaniard's foot, with De Gea going down injured. Martin Atkinson didn't see what had happened; neither did United's players. Everyone played to the whistle and Smith Rowe scored.

While VAR looked at the decision, there was no foul to give. It is sportsmanlike to put the ball out when a player goes down but it doesn't have to happen by the laws of the game.

Atkinson consulted with his VAR official, who told him who stood on De Gea's foot. It wasn't an Arsenal player... so it's a goal. 

And United can feel aggrieved - but the Gunners are just as innocent as United are in all this. 

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.