FOOTBALL fans fumed that Eberechi Eze’s North London derby goal was allowed to stand.
The Arsenal superstar, 27, added his side’s second just five minutes after Leandro Trossard gave the hosts the lead over arch-rivals Tottenham.
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Eberechi Eze’s first goal in the North London derby was controversialCredit: Getty
Eze made space in the Tottenham box as Martin Zubimendi and Leandro Trossard tried to get out of the wayCredit: Getty
Eze, who turned down Spurs to join his beloved Gunners in the summer, jinxed past defenders on the edge of the box.
And his rasping strike was too hot for Guglielmo Vicario to handle.
The Italian got a wrist to the ball but could only divert it into the back of the net.
But plenty watching the action on TV – plus Les Ferdinand in the Sky Sports studio at the Emirates – could not believe the goal stood.
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That is because there were two Arsenal players standing in offside positions when Eze shot.
Both Martin Zubimendi and Trossard were beyond the last Tottenham defender.
And many argued they were in Vicario’s eyeline and therefore interfering with the goalkeeper – even though they made no attempt to play the ball or get involved.
One said: “I honestly can’t believe what I’m seeing in the Premier League right now. How does Eze’s goal not even get checked by VAR?”
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Another wrote: “That is a ridiculous decision. Not one but two players blocking the keeper’s view when Eze shot the ball. How can you check VAR and still give the goal?”
A third added: “Two Arsenal players standing in an offside position for Eze goal, nothing on commentary about it and nothing on VAR.”
And a final user fumed: “I was literally waiting for the VAR check there on Eze’s goal. That’s obstruction imo.”
Plenty also pointed out the lack of consistency from officials in recent weeks.
Virgil van Dijk’s header against Manchester City was controversially ruled out even though Andy Robertson ducked out of the way and was not impacting Gianluigi Donnarumma.
And Liverpool felt hard done by again on Saturday when Murillo’s opener for Nottingham Forest was checked and cleared – despite Dan Ndoye’s positioning.
However, the Premier League Match Centre X account confirmed why the Eze goal was given.
They posted: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that there were no Arsenal players in the line of vision of the goalkeeper, and they made no movement to impact an opponent while in an offside position.”
And there could be no complaints about Eze’s second and Arsenal’s third goal just 37 seconds into the second half, brilliantly finding the bottom corner.
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Richarlison pulled one back with a brilliant long-range, quick-thinking lob over David Raya.
But Eze put the game beyond any doubt by wrapping up an emphatic hat-trick with another fine finish.
Guglielmo Vicario got a hand to it but could not keep it outCredit: Reuters
Two Arsenal players may have obscured Vicario’s viewCredit: Sky Sports
Eze added a second in the first minute of the second halfCredit: EPA
