Emile Smith Rowe scores bizarre Arsenal goal as Man Utd ‘keeper David de Gea is DOWN INJURED after Fred trod on his foot
ARSENAL scored one of the most BIZARRE goals in Premier League history as Emile Smith Rowe gave the visitors the lead against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
As an Arsenal corner came in after 13 minutes Manchester United midfielder Fred trod on the foot of his own keeper David De Gea and the Spaniard went down in a heap.
Moments later Emile Smith Rowe thumped the ball in from the edge of the box with De Gea lying on the ground.
There were several minutes of confusion as De Gea got back to his feet, but referee Martin Atkinson - with help from the VAR - eventually signalled that the goal would stand.
Replays showed Atkinson had not blown his whistle before the ball hit the back of the net, but he did appear to put the whistle to his lips before deciding against stopping the game.
Former Prem ref Mark Clattenburg told Amazon TV: "Martin Atkinson has to give the goal because Fred accidentally stamps on David de Gea's foot, so therefore it's not a foul by an Arsenal player. He doesn't blow his whistle and therefore he has to give the goal."
And at half-time he added: "I've never seen anything quite as extraordinary as this. If he would've blown his whistle before the ball had entered the goal it would've been even more controversial because Arsenal would've been the victims of a disallowed goal.
"The only time he could've disallowed it was if Sancho won the ball and it went towards the halfway line. I'm sure Martin Atkinson would've killed it at that point.
Former Premier League ref Mark Halsey on controversial goal
Emile Smith Rowe's goal at Manchester United was bizarre as the Arsenal attacker fired home into an empty net with David de Gea injured on the ground.
The strike was eventually awarded by VAR because referee Martin Atkinson did not see Fred had stepped on the foot of the United keeper.
However, I don't believe the controversial first-half incident should have reached that point.
Atkinson clearly did not know why goalkeeper De Gea was lying on the ground. The United keeper could have had a head injury or something even more serious for all he knew.
Therefore, the Yorkshire official should have used common sense and blown his whistle to stop play before Smith Rowe even took his shot at goal.
We saw on the replays Atkinson went to blow and then stopped.
Yes, De Gea should have been stronger but we must remember a goalkeeper is a specialist position because they are the only players on the field who can handle the ball.
Atkinson's positioning was poor, he got caught up in play and was in front of Smith Rowe when he took his shot.
He should have moved six yards behind Smith Rowe to get in a better position.
"He isn't looking at the goalkeeper and it's only when Emile Smith Rowe is about to strike it, that he realises De Gea is down. His feeling will be that there was a foul in the build-up and that's why VAR is there. He can't blow his whistle until the ball has entered the goal to give VAR a chance."
Reacting to the goal, one Man Utd fan said: "I mean, it's definitely a goal.
"But I'd hope Arsenal would give United a goal back as if De Gea wasn't hurt that doesn't go in. Simple fair play."
While another added: "Was it a goal? Yes technically. Would De Gea comfortably save it if he wasn’t picking up pieces of his achilles tendon? Yes again.
"Therefore, in the unspoken fair play handbook, you give them a goal back."
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But others disagreed with the premise that the visitors should have given a goal back to United.
One said: "He got touched by his own player - and it was a very light touch, no head injury, no reason to disallow the goal."
And another added: "No error or foul from Arsenal in the build up to the @emilesmithrowe goal so no reason to give them a goal back at all. Let push on lads and take the game to them."
It mattered not as United fought back to win a thrilling game 3-2.
After Smith Rowe's opener, United hit back just before half-time through Bruno Fernandes.
The home side then took the lead with Cristiano Ronaldo sweeping in a Marcus Rashford cross to score the 800th goal of his glittering career.
But Martin Odegaard levelled for the Gunners just two minutes later, before turning villain, giving away a penalty for a clumsy foul on Fred.
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Ronaldo stepped up and blasted down the middle, giving United their first Premier League win in a month.
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