
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has blasted the linesman’s decision to award Manchester United’s contentious second goal in their 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Wright was left fuming after Diogo Dalot’s blatant offside infringement went unnoticed, allowing Alejandro Garnacho to double United’s lead. The absence of VAR in the competition only added to Wright’s frustration.

“That linesman’s decision was shocking,” Wright exclaimed on BBC Radio 5 Live. “How can you miss an offside that clear? It’s a massive moment in the game. Leicester score soon after, and it’s 1-1, but instead, it’s 2-1 United.”
Wright questioned the linesman’s competence, given his experience at Premier League level.

“At this level, you can’t make mistakes like that,” Wright emphasized. “The linesman’s got to be better. No VAR to bail him out tonight, and it cost Leicester dearly.”
Wright also criticized the referee’s decision to book Leicester manager Steve Cooper for protesting the decision.
“Cooper’s got every right to be upset,” Wright said. “The image on the bench shows a clear error. You can’t just silence him with a yellow card. That’s not good enough.”
Wright praised Leicester’s performance, despite the defeat.
“Leicester didn’t deserve to lose by that margin,” Wright noted. “They created chances, showed great spirit. The scoreline flatters United.”
Wright believes the officials’ mistakes undermined the competition’s integrity.
“Nights like these show why VAR’s essential,” Wright argued. “You can’t have officials making game-changing errors. It’s not fair on the players or fans.”
The former Arsenal striker urged the FA to address the issue.
“The FA needs to review this and ensure officials are held accountable,” Wright concluded. “Fans deserve better. Players deserve better. It’s time for change.”