Paul Merson has claimed that Arsenal’s winning goal in the North London derby against Tottenham should have been disallowed after reviewing the match footage.
As has often been the case for Arsenal, they secured a victory at Tottenham’s new stadium, continuing their successful record against their local rivals. This win also highlights Arsenal’s dominance at Spurs’ ground, as they have won more matches there since it opened than Spurs have managed at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium since 2006.
Despite missing key players like Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard due to injury and suspension, Arsenal extended their unbeaten start to the season. The decisive moment came in the 68th minute when Gabriel Magalhaes headed in from a Bukayo Saka corner to break the deadlock. Up until that point, both teams had struggled to create clear-cut chances.
While Gabriel’s goal stood, Merson, a former Arsenal player and Sky Sports pundit, suggested that it should have been ruled out for a foul on Tottenham defender Cristian Romero. However, Merson also placed some blame on Romero for his poor positioning, emphasizing that the defender should have done better to prevent the goal.
“I’d be frustrated not to get a foul in that situation,” Merson said on Sky Sports. “Romero was in the wrong position and made mistakes defensively. As a centre-back, you have to be aware of both the ball and your opponent.”
Although there was no extended VAR check following the goal and no significant protests from Tottenham’s defense, Merson was not alone in his criticism. Many fans online also argued that the goal should have been disallowed.
Tottenham’s captain, Son Heung-min, expressed his disappointment after the match, telling Sky Sports that Spurs had played well but were unlucky to lose. He acknowledged that conceding from a set-piece was frustrating, as it had been a recurring issue for the team.
“We dominated the game, the quality of our football was clear, but once again we conceded from a set-piece,” Son said. “It’s something we need to improve on, and I know our fans are disappointed. We must stay united and work through this tough moment.”
