Keith Hackett has dismissed the notion of a conspiracy against Arsenal following the disallowed goal in their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s team squandered a two-goal lead, losing crucial points in the Premier League title race. However, many Arsenal supporters believe they should have had a third goal when Mikel Merino’s shot was deflected into the net off Kai Havertz.
The Arsenal players and fans initially thought the well-positioned German had secured the win. However, VAR quickly ruled the goal out after replays showed the ball had struck Havertz’s arm before entering the net.
Hackett contends that the law regarding handball in goal-scoring situations is clear-cut. Despite the contact being accidental, it doesn’t change the fact that VAR made the right call in disallowing the goal.
“The conspiracy theory has been circulating on social media regarding the disallowed Arsenal goal,” Hackett told Villa News. “The law is explicit. It is an offence to score a goal directly from a hand or arm, even if accidental, or immediately after the ball has touched the hand or arm, even if accidental.”
“The ball struck the Arsenal player’s arm. The referee applied the law correctly to disallow the goal.”
Some Arsenal fans seem eager to deflect blame from their team after squandering a two-goal advantage. With missed chances, a lack of a reliable striker, injuries, and defensive lapses, the blame game has turned to conspiracy theories suggesting the PGMOL or Premier League may be working against the Gunners’ title ambitions.
Ex-PGMOL chief reacts to Arsenal ‘conspiracy theory’ he’s seen after incident v Aston Villa
