Lineker reacts to ‘weird’ Arsenal v Aston Villa incident as MOTD show footage
Gary Lineker has admitted the law disallowing goals if they deflect in directly from an accidental handball is “weird”, after Aston Villa drew at Arsenal on Saturday.
The BBC Match of the Day host made the comment live on air (18 January, 29:58) to Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams as the panel discussed the disallowed goal late on at the Emirates for Kai Havertz, following the Villans’ comeback from two goals down to take a point.
Mikel Merino’s shot deflected past Emi Martinez via the forearm of the German forward, but VAR acted quickly to rule out what Arsenal had momentarily thought was enough to reclaim the game.
“[There was] no doubt about the handball with Havertz, was there?”, Lineker said.
“No, it was the right decision,” admitted Murphy.
Lineker went on: “It’s that law, isn’t it, that weirdly if you accidentally handball it, and it goes in then it’s given regardless.”
“Things seem to be going against Arsenal at the moment,” Murphy added.
Aston Villa will certainly take point v Arsenal
In the circumstances, Aston Villa will take the point at the Emirates and run with it.
It was another game for Arsenal in which they created more chances and yet didn’t take them, but in truth a draw was probably about a fair result.
Take away the Havertz moment at the end – the defending from Merino to allow Youri Tielemans across him for the first Villa goal, and the horrific defensive play from Thomas Partey to give Ollie Watkins the freedom of the box were what cost the Gunners.
Unai Emery’s side tend to fancy themselves at his old stomping ground, even despite Arsenal coming out on top back in August at Villa Park with a 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s men, and knew there remained something in the game for them.
The point takes the Villans above Manchester City in the Premier League table, as City travel to take on Ipswich Town on Sunday (19 January).
In other Aston Villa news, an agreement is reached for a defender to depart Villa Park.
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