Mike Dean also explained why the penalty shout against Arsenal was not given
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former English Premier League (EPL) referee, Mike Dean has explained why two controversial incidents during Arsenal’s dramatic 3-1 win against Man United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday went in favour of the home side.
After the encounter, Red Devils boss, Erik ten Hag, challenged three refereeing decisions and blamed them for their second defeat of the season.
Two of them were a penalty incident involving United’s new striker Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho’s 88th minute goal that was ruled out for offside.
Speaking after the match, Ten Hag said: “Yeah. You’re already telling and have seen the same, it was similar. The performance was right, but the result was not on our side. Many decisions were against us.
“Let’s start with the penalty given but rejected, not get booked for it, then foul on Hojlund in the penalty area, not even by the VAR, and then disallowed goal from Garnacho; I think wrong angle, and I think it’s onside. The final goal—how can they allow that goal? It’s a clear foul on Jonny Evans from the shot by Rice; it’s a lot.”
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However, in reference to the penalty incident, which involved Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, Mike Dean told Sky Sports: “I don’t think that’s a pen. I think it’s just good strong defending.
“They’re both tussling for it and his [Gabriel’s] arms are there but if you look at another angle, Hojlund has got hold of his left arm so he’s kind of pulling the defender down. I’d be more than happy with that decision.”
On Garnacho’s strike that was chalked off late in the game after VAR review deemed he was marginally offside, Dean said: “His shoulder’s offside and that’s what they’ve given.
“I understand where the manager’s coming from because the angle there is not ideal but we’ve got the technology in the hub to put the lines in the correct position and it looked offside at normal speed.”