Why Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori goal wasn’t disallowed by VAR amid Kyle Walker Man City protests

Arsenal’s equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday arrived in fortunate circumstances with a new verdict given on why the goal was allowed. Just 13 minutes after Erling Haaland put City into an early lead, Riccardo Calafiori levelled with a stunning strike, though his goal was engulfed in controversy.

The Gunners had made minimal forays forward before Calafiori joined the attack to curl home Gabriel Martinelli’s pass with their being a clear reason for City’s openness. Following an incident in the middle of the pitch, as captain, Kyle Walker was called over to speak to referee Michael Oliver.

Once their discussion had finished, Thomas Partey played a quick free kick into Martinelli’s path down the left channel and over the head of the retreating Walker. With City now facing their own goal, Calafiori swiftly netted a superb equaliser, though for two reasons, City and Guardiola were left furious by how the goal came about.

Firstly, led by the protests of Walker, several City players surrounded Oliver eager to hear his explanation for allowing play to restart even though Walker, who had been called over, was not back in position. Secondly, there were also shouts for offside but a quick VAR check proved Martinelli was not beyond the last man.

As for the other incident, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has tried to explain Oliver’s thought- process with VAR not having the power to overturn that decision. “I think because of what happened we almost have a microscope out looking at this,” he said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.

“They felt that Walker wasn’t given time to get back into position. I looked at where he went back, you see him going back now and it’s almost like a flat back four. Does he know the player is to the left of him? I am not sure. But I wondered if he appealed for offside.

“When it goes into the net it becomes a big talking point doesn’t it because it’s a consequence. Has the referee given enough time? He feels he has. The referee let him play on. I think the referee feels he is back in the position he wants to be.”

“He got back, he jogged back and was giving instructions to players, he suddenly sees a player on the left of him. Is he offside, is he past him I don’t know. The ref has to judge on what he sees, he felt he was back in position and let the play go.”