Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal: WOW! What a point! James Copley and Phil Smith react at the Stadium of Light
Alan Shearer and Theo Walcott offered opposing verdicts on Dan Ballard’s challenge as Mikel Arteta raged at the officials
The incident came just seven minutes into the match and left Merino needing lengthy treatment, sparking complaints from Mikel Arteta and a loud debate in the Match of the Day studio. Kelly Cates raised the moment after full-time, asking Walcott for his view. The former Arsenal forward admitted he saw the situation differently.
“Well, my view, I look at it a little bit differently, to be honest,” Walcott said. “And it's not clear and obvious. However, it's early in the game, seven minutes in the game, and Dan Ballard, of course, wants to put his mark on the game; shall we just call it?
“And Mikel Arteta spoke about being disruptive. And he's definitely, from my opinion, right, he's disruptive. And there's a slight movement from the elbow to Merino's cheekbone. Me and Al definitely probably don't agree on it. However, I do feel like his elbow is in quite high position, shall we just call it. And it was very disruptive in it.”
Shearer saw it entirely differently. The Match of the Day pundit defended Ballard’s approach and insisted the Sunderland centre-back had done nothing wrong. “I think as a defender, if he allows that forward to get across him, Merino, his manager goes absolutely berserk at him,” Shearer said. “That's his space, and he cannot allow any forward to get across him. So he then settles himself, and then he goes for the header. He can't jump without doing that for a header.
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“And I don't think there's anything deliberate there at all. I think it's more brilliant defending than anything else. I wouldn't allow anyone to sort of get in me or in and around me or in front of me. And that's his job as a defender. He cannot allow the forward to get in front of him. And he didn't.”
VAR ultimately agreed with Shearer’s interpretation, deeming the contact part of a natural heading motion. Ballard went on to deliver a standout display against his former club, scoring the opener and assisting Brian Brobbey’s 94th-minute equaliser as Sunderland extended their unbeaten home run on a dramatic night at the Stadium of Light.
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