Richard Keys explains whether Arsenal’s goal vs Man United should’ve been ruled out, ‘it’s simple’

Add as preferred source on Google

Pundit Richard Keys thinks there should’ve been more discourse around Riccardo Calafiori’s goal at Old Trafford.

Calafiori scored in the 13th minute from a corner, being left unmarked inches from the goal line to nod the ball home. 

The early header was the match-winner, as Arsenal benefited from their new corner routine, converting from yet another set piece. 

Arsenal were last season’s set-piece kings as Nicolas Jover earned his plaudits once more, but Keys believes the goal shouldn’t have stood.  

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer was blown away by what ‘outstanding’ Arsenal star did against Man United

Richard Keys thinks Riccardo Calafiori’s goal should’ve been ruled out

VAR did look at the goal, but it was quickly cleared and awarded, triggering a rendition of ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ from the away end.

Keys shared his belief that Arsenal were actually lucky to see the match-winner stand, titling his blog post, ‘It’s simple. Bayindir was fouled’.

Keys believed that William Saliba ‘should’ve been penalised’ for how he handled Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir. 

Acknowledging that Saliba’s positioning wasn’t an issue, the presenter identified the moment the Frenchman blocked Bayindir as a foul.

“Take another look at where Bayindir ends up. He’s in the back of the net with the ball. Saliba sent him there,” Keys wrote.

The presenter went on to insist that ‘any keeper in the world’ would’ve expected a free-kick to have been awarded in those circumstances, doubling down on his belief that it was a foul.

Dermot Gallagher disagrees with Keys

VAR didn’t see an issue with the goal, nor did referee Simon Hooper. 

Keys has been outnumbered by those reviewing the fixture, as on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch segment, Dermot Gallagher gave his verdict on the corner and whether Saliba committed a foul. 

“Not a foul. Not a foul at all,” Gallagher said, going on to raise his suspicion that, if anything, Bayindir was the perpetrator.

“If anything, the goalkeeper puts his hand on the player.”

Arsenal flexed their set-piece superiority and, most importantly, earned the win within the law book.