Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was frustrated with refereeing decisions in the defeat to Arsenal.
Alejandro Garnacho‘s ‘offside’ goal was the tip of the iceberg when it came to controversial decisions in Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal.
Erik ten Hag told Sky Sports he was unhappy with Jonny Evans being fouled in the lead-up to Declan Rice’s goal.
He also felt Rasmus Hojlund should have had a penalty when he was impeded by Gabriel inside the penalty area.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24
Manchester United penalty appeal v Arsenal
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was wheeled out by Sky Sports News (4/9 11.30am) for their Ref Watch segment.
He strongly disagreed with Erik ten Hag and did not believe Hojlund should have had a penalty.
Gallagher said: “There is physical contact but I think the defender is just too strong. He pushes the ball too far.
MORE UNITED STORIES
“The defender just holds his ground, he doesn’t do anything wrong. You see this all the time and I’d be stunned if Anthony Taylor gave a penalty for it.
“He does (lean into him) but we see defenders all the time use their body.”
Gallagher also dismissed the ‘foul’ on Declan Rice, suggesting Evans was impeding Gabriel just as much, and it was a 50/50 call.
He also agreed with the offside decision, claiming that ruling out Alejandro Garnacho’s goal was correct.
Gallagher on Saka foul
There was another incident in the first half where Bukayo Saka was issued a yellow card for a studs-up lunge on Bruno Fernandes.
Gallagher did not believe this should have been upgraded to a red card.
He explained: “The fact he’s low, he’s come from such a short distance there’s no intensity.”
In short, Gallagher was of the view that everything referee Anthony Taylor did was correct, and that for each of Erik ten Hag’s complaints, there is no case to answer.