Mikel Merino’s goal was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check (Image: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO SPORT)
and both argued that ’s third goal against shouldn’t have stood as the Gunners humiliated their last 16 opponents on Tuesday night. Walcott declared that the law that allowed the goal to stand is “wrong” as the north Londoners recorded the biggest ever knockout away win in the history of this competition. The Gunners hammered seven past the Dutch side in Eindhoven in a 7-1 first-leg win – but there was some controversy about Mikel Merino’s goal that made it 3-0 after 31 minutes.
The goal was subjected to a lengthy VAR check with Merino in an offside position when the ball was initially played to him by Jurrien Timber. Ryan Flamingo intercepted it and was ultimately – but contentiously – adjudged to be in control of the ball before Merino’s well-taken finish, allowing the goal to stand. But player-turned-pundit Rooney, working for Amazon Prime Video Sport, was not impressed with the decision.
Speaking at half-time, ’s all-time leading goalscorer said: “From my point of view I think it’s offside. As we see it progress here Merino has made a good run and the defender has to block the ball. Beyond that, it’s schoolboy defending, it’s woeful defending.
“It’s a really good finish but as we see here, he’s offside and the defender has to make an action to stop the ball going through. He does that so the ball deflects off the defender. From my point of view it’s offside.”
Ex- winger Walcott, who scored 108 times for , said: “I’ve got to agree. The player is not in control of the ball. That’s where for me the law is wrong and the defending is absolutely comical. It’s a great finish but it’s the long wait I can’t stand and why it takes so long to get to these decisions.”
Mikel Merino made it 3-0 to Arsenal after just 31 minutes (Image: GETTY)
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was then consulted and sought to explain why the goal was given. He too, though, did not agree with the final decision of VAR Carlos del Cerro Grande.
The 49-year-old, now retired from officiating, said: “It’s a very subjective call. When the ball is rolled, Merino is in an offside position, does the defender deliberately play the ball or does he block the ball?
“If he blocks the ball, it’s not in a controlled manner and it should be given as an offside but that’s why the VAR, it’s very subjective, by that action of slight to block the ball he believes it’s a deliberate action to play the ball and that’s why they’ve given the goal. I don’t agree with it.”
Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott both felt the goal should have been disallowed (Image: AMAZON PRIME VIDEO SPORT)
Daniel Sturridge then joked: “As an attacker, I agree with it!” Before Rooney continued: “This is why it’s so frustrating, the defender is not even looking at the ball.
“He turns his head away from it. He can’t know what he’s doing with the ball, he’s not even looking at it. I don’t see how they’ve come to the decision that he was in control of the ball.”
bring PSV back to London next Wednesday with the tie all but done already. They will face the winner of the tie between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the tournament.