Gary Neville and former referee Mike Dean have both come out in defence of the match officials after Arsenal’s appeals for a late penalty were dismissed in their narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The controversial incident unfolded in the closing stages of the game when a long throw into the Liverpool box created confusion. Joe Gomez attempted to clear with a header but mistimed his jump, unintentionally blocking the vision of teammate Dominik Szoboszlai who was standing behind him. As a result, the ball dropped awkwardly and struck Szoboszlai on the upper part of his arm before looping past Viktor Gyökeres. Liverpool managed to clear the danger, but Arsenal players immediately surrounded referee Chris Kavanagh, demanding a penalty for handball.
However, Kavanagh waved away their protests, and after the match, Mike Dean explained why the decision to play on was, in his view, correct. Dean highlighted that Szoboszlai’s arm was in a natural position and that there was no deliberate movement towards the ball. He broke it down by referring to the “red zone” and “blue zone” guideline used by referees in such situations, stressing that the Hungarian midfielder’s body shape suggested no intent. “The ball has travelled a long way, his arm never goes toward it, it simply hits him,” Dean clarified, insisting the referee had judged it correctly on the pitch.
Gary Neville echoed Dean’s assessment during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage. He argued that the crowded penalty area played a significant role in the decision. According to Neville, if Szoboszlai had been in the clear, seen the ball coming, and then handled it while jumping, it might have been classed as a foul. But in this case, with multiple players obstructing his sightline, penalising him would have been overly harsh. “There were four or five bodies in front of him,” Neville said. “He simply couldn’t see it.”
While the penalty debate grabbed headlines, the post-match analysis also focused heavily on Arsenal’s performance. Roy Keane was scathing in his review, claiming the Gunners lacked imagination and spark in attack. He described their play as “robotic,” praising their defensive strength and organisation but criticising their inability to produce moments of creativity when chasing the game. “There was urgency, yes, but not much invention,” Keane remarked, adding that Arsenal often look predictable in open play.
Jamie Carragher supported Keane’s perspective, stressing that Arsenal’s real challenge lies in creating chances rather than finishing them. Despite investing in attacking talents such as Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze, Carragher argued that Arsenal still rely too heavily on set pieces against top-level opposition. He concluded that while their defensive setup is among the strongest in Europe, their lack of fluid creativity in attack risks holding them back once again this season.
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