caughtoffside
·18 gennaio 2025
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·18 gennaio 2025
The Premier League have made it clear why Kai Havertz’s late goal for Arsenal was disallowed against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
It was a match that the Gunners looked like winning comfortable at one stage but two goals from Villa in the second half completely turned around the match.
Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins scored in the second half for Unai Emery’s side to ruin the party for Arsenal.
The controversial moment of the match came late in the match when when a shot had deflected off Havertz and went straight in to the net.
Arsenal players started celebrating what they thought would be a legitimate goal but the referee called them back and after a VAR check, their goal was disallowed because of the ball hitting Havertz’s hand.
The Premier League have since issued a statement on their X account, revealing why the goal was disallowed.
The Premier League’s Match Centre account posted:
“The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field. The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz’s arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
#ARSAVL – 88’ VAR OVERTURN The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field. The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz’s arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed. — Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) January 18, 2025
Kai Havertz goal for Arsenal was disallowed for handball. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Gunners once again missed a number of chances to finish off the game and it later cost them two points in the Premier League title race.
Meanwhile Liverpool won their match with two late goals from Darwin Nunez and consolidated their position in the title race.
It was a match that showed that the Gunners need depth in their squad as the only attacking option that came from the bench was Raheem Sterling.