As the dust settled on the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal legend Tony Adams couldn’t help but shake his head in disbelief as he watched his former teammates celebrate their 2-0 win over Manchester United. But it wasn’t the result that had him perplexed, it was the blatant lack of punishment meted out to two of his former Arsenal players, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, whose actions could have easily been deemed culpable for the goals they scored.
Adams, a renowned hard-nosed defender during his playing days, wryly observed that Timber was lucky to get away with a push on Rasmus Hojlund for the first goal, a feat he didn’t mince words in calling a “little push” that the referee conveniently chose to ignore. And if that wasn’t enough, Saliba’s second goal was equally suspect, with the French defender appearing to push his opponent in the box, only to see the referee fail to blow his whistle once more.
The normally stoic Adams couldn’t help but vent his frustration as he watched the match unfold, lamenting the referee’s apparent inability to take control of the game and make the necessary calls. “The referee has let it all go,” he lamented, his voice laced with a mix of disappointment and resignation.
Despite the controversy surrounding the goals, Arsenal’s victory was a significant one, one that saw them leapfrog Manchester United in the Premier League table and maintain their push for a top-four finish. The win was all the more impressive given that it came against a formidable Manchester United side, who had been touted as potential title contenders at the start of the season.
But the manner of the win was far from convincing, with Arsenal relying on a combination of good fortune, clever set pieces, and referee largesse to secure the three points. And while Adams was ecstatic about the result, he couldn’t help but feel that his former team had gotten away with one, a feeling that was only reinforced by the referee’s bewildering decisions throughout the game.
Arsenal’s 2-0 win may have been a significant result in the grand scheme of things, but the controversy surrounding the goals has certainly added a layer of intrigue to the match, one that will undoubtedly be debated for weeks to come. And as the Gunners look to build on this momentum, they will undoubtedly be hoping that the referee’s keen eyes remain benevolent towards them, a notion that’s far from assured given the dubious nature of their goals.
