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Furious Arsenal fans point finger of blame amid controversy for Bruno Fernandes goal

A number of Arsenal fans took to social media to vent after David Raya was beaten by a free-kick which was taken more an extra yard away from the defensive wall.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up to break the deadlock in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, beating Raya with a fairly central strike after getting his effort up and over the Arsenal wall in first half stoppage time.

It was only when the strike was analysed by Sky Sports at half time that it emerged referee Anthony Taylor had set the wall 11.2 yards back from Fernandes instead of the standard 10 yards, leading to questions from the pundits.

The incident quickly became a talking point online. But the majority of Arsenal fans have questioned Raya, rather than Taylor, after he was seen standing on the other side of his goal.

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One fan wrote on a social media post highlighting Taylor's mathematics error: "Raya still left half the goal open," while another user posted: "You can't blame Antony Taylor, just blame Raya and move on."

Another Arsenal fan said of the keeper: "Set the wall wrong too, unfortunately that one is on Raya."

There were some fans who felt that Raya was simply beaten by a great strike. One such fan theorised: "He had to protect the other side from Zirkzee getting a tap in, he trusted the wall to be of service to him."

David Raya

David Raya's positioning was questioned on social media

While fans were left to debate Raya's role in the goal, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson was in no doubt that Raya was at fault. He said during his half-time analysis: ""I'm not a goalkeeper but I've seen a lot of free-kicks and it doesn't matter how hard he hits that ball, it was that far inside the post and he was nowhere near it.

"I don't see too many goals from free-kicks going in that far inside the post. I don't think his position was right."

Roy Keane suggested that Fernandes' strike caught the Spaniard out after he failed to get anywhere near the midfielder's effort. He said: "What a strike, the power, the technique. I think the pace of it has surprised the goalkeeper."

Declan Rice went on to score a second half equaliser for Arsenal, who have now taken just two points from their last three Premier League games. They are now 15 points behind Liverpool in the title race, though they have still played one game less than Arne Slot's side.

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