‘Never seen anything like that’: Man Utd players fume over goal madness

Commentators have “never seen anything like it” when Manchester United refused to continue after a staggering goal controversy.

Arsenal opened the scoring in controversial fashion.

Early controversy rocked Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal on Friday morning after the Gunners took a 1-0 lead with one of the strangest goals you will see.

It came in the 13th minute, with United keeper David de Gea going down injured as the ball came back into play on a corner.

Replays would show fellow teammate Fred accidentally stepping on de Gea’s foot, sending him to the ground in pain.

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Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe then fired a left-footed shot into the net and with referee Martin Atkinson choosing not to blow his whistle before the ball went in, the goal stood.

It prompted several minutes of confusion as United players furiously protested the call.

Atkinson would later get help from the VAR, with replays showing Atkinson had seemed to put the whistle to his lips but decided against stopping the game.

As a result the goal stood and there was little else referee Atkinson could do according to Amazon Prime commentator Ally McCoist.

Drama as David de Gea goes down injured... but it's his own teammate that steps on him 😳

Then Emile Smith Rowe smashes one in from way out.

And after a lengthy injury and VAR wait... Arsenal lead!

LIVE | https://t.co/iVZdUNo3Xm#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/ho4O4tCRLC

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) December 2, 2021

“He’s got to give a goal there’s nothing else he can do,” McCoist said.

“There’s no point shouting at the referee the fact of the matter is there was no foul committed he wasn’t offside there was no infringement.

“Yes, the goalkeeper was lying down. In an ideal situation if he had seen De Gea lying down he blows his whistle and give Arsenal possession of the ball when the goalkeeper got treated but he never blew the whistle.

“Never seen anything like that before. I can understand the frustration of United players but nothing the referee can do.”

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg explained at halftime just why the goal had to stand.

How can our fans blame De Gea for that? Fred studded his ankle. Try having that done and expect not to go down in pain

— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) December 2, 2021

Sure it hurt when Fred stood on his ankle, but De Gea has to do everything he can to stay up until the ball goes out of play. Can't have been that bad if he was up a minute later. Not sure how United can argue the goal shouldn't have stood.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) December 2, 2021

Goal given, correct decision. Harsh on United and De Gea, but you can't just make rules up because somebody has been injured by a team-mate

— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) December 2, 2021

“[Atkinson] has to give the goal here,” he said.

“Fred accidentally stamps on De Gea so it’s not a foul. He doesn’t blow his whistle [before the ball crosses the line] so he has to give the goal.

“I’ve never seen anything quite as extraordinary as that.

“However, Martin Atkinson is powerless. He doesn’t see De Gea down on the floor, he isn’t looking at the goalkeeper. He will probably feel there’s been a foul in the build-up and that’s why VAR is there, but there’s not.”

United eventually hit back to level the game at 1-all, with Bruno Fernandes the one to capitalise on stellar teamwork.

It all started with Jadon Sancho, who did well to thread the ball through for Fred, who pass backed to Fernandes to finish the play off.

The Red Devils were first to strike in the second half as Marcus Rashford set up Cristiano Ronaldo to make it 2-1.

Arsenal levelled the scores again soon after as Martin Ødegaard side-footed a finish past de Gea but it did not take long for United to take the lead.

It was Ronaldo again, this time nailing a penalty after Fred was fouled in the box.

That goal has to stand. Fred's trod on De Gea. Whistle is blown after ball goes in.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 2, 2021

I love the fact that I’ve been watching football for about 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like that Smith Rowe goal

— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) December 2, 2021

Originally published as ‘Never seen anything like that’: Man Utd players fume over goal madness