Erik ten Hag’s four referee and VAR complaints at Arsenal, and why Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is so incorrect.
Arsenal came away from their match against Manchester United with more than just three points; they also put a tremendous amount of rage and anguish on their opponent’s manager, Erik ten Hag. Outside of being outplayed for the most of the game as United tried the single tactic of hitting on the counter, he went through the four situations that he felt were called incorrectly and ultimately the reason why they lost in his post-match news conference.
Erik ten Hag’s four referee and VAR complaints at Arsenal, and why Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is so incorrect
“Let’s start with the penalty given but rejected, not get booked for it, then foul on Hojlund in the penalty area, not even by the VAR, and then disallowed goal from Garnacho; I think wrong angle, and I think it’s onside. The final goal—how can they allow that goal? It’s a clear foul on Jonny Evans from the shot by Rice; it’s a lot.”
Ten Hag reacted angrily to these instances, but is he correct?football.london examines all four charges of errors to determine whether the Dutchman has a case.
Kai Havertz penalty
This was not a punishment. As with Danilo’s small touch with Marcus Rashford in Manchester United’s narrow victory over Nottingham Forest, this was given but overturned by VAR. This, however, is not what irritates Ten Hag.
He thinks that Havertz should have been booked for diving right now. In retrospect, the referee had the option to book a player, but Anthony Taylor did not.
Rightly so, given that there was enough touch to avoid claims of a dive, and instead Havertz utilized contact as a reason to go down, exaggerate contact, and try to gain a penalty, as we see all too frequently. It isn’t a penalty, but it isn’t a dive, thus it is: Ten Hag wins on VAR.
Rasmus Hojlund’s penalty shout
The second allegation is that Gabriel Magalhaes fouled Rasmus Hojlund in the box. The Dane cuts inside and overhits the final touch as he grapples with Gabriel, who has a right not to sit idly by as his opponent attempts to score.
He doesn’t shove the striker in the back or run across him; instead, both players are holding each other, and Ben White takes up the loose touch. With the raising of the so-called “bar” when awarding spot-kicks, this type of physical collapsing should never constitute a penalty. Ten Hag wins the VAR by a score of 2-0.
Disallowed Garnacho goal
“It was the wrong camera angle,” said ten Hag. Are you serious?
Arsene Wenger’s belief in changing the offside law would see this goal stand. However, according to the rules, Alejandro Garnacho was in an offside position ahead of Gabriel, whose great attempt to play him off worked.
Managers’ actions like this undercut hope for an improvement in officiating. The lines show that this decision is black and white. Ten Hag wins in VAR 3-0.
Declan Rice goal
Ten Hag says Gabriel fouled Jonny Evans. This could be even more absurd than the offside questions… No, don’t be silly, that’s in a class by itself.
To imply Evans is fouled while having his arm on Gabriel and pulling him to the floor is bordering on absurd. As Rice smashes in the goal to give Arsenal the lead, Gabriel is the one screaming for the penalty, and really, it leaves ten Hag looking for excuses rather than the predictable and beatable tactic that has left his record away to big six teams in shreds. Ten Hag wins 4-0 in VAR.
Game over.
