Arsenal Man United
Keith Hackett
Mon 10 March 2025 14:45, UK
Mikel Merino was lucky not to be sent off as his Arsenal side drew 2-2 with Man United, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Spaniard could have taken Alejandro Garnacho out of the game with a stamp on the winger’s ankle.
Following the season-ending injury to Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Merino has been leading the line for the Gunners in an unnatural centre-forward role in recent weeks.
That comes amid claims that Mikel Arteta no longer fancies Raheem Sterling for his side, although they were seemingly fortunate not to lose the 28-year-old to suspension as well here.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta saw his side drop more points in the title race (Credit Imago)
Mikel Merino clashes with Alejandro Garnacho
The visitors had found themselves trailing at half-time to a Bruno Fernandes free-kick amid controversy over how far back referee Anthony Taylor had positioned the Arsenal wall.
Ten minutes after the break, Merino was then involved in another flashpoint where he managed to avoid punishment.
Mikel Merino vs Man United Total (as per SofaScore)
Shots on Target 0
Shots off Target 1
Successful Passes 17/24
Success Duels 4/18
Fouls 1
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After Garnacho went down under a challenge from Leandro Trossard, replays showed Merino step down on the outstretched leg of the Man United winger as he moved in to take possession of the ball.
However, that was not seen by Taylor, with VAR als electing not to intervene to recommend any sort of action from the referee.
Now Hackett believes that the Arsenal man can consider himself lucky to have stayed on the pitch in the wake of that incident.
‘Arsenal should have gone a man down at Man United’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider if Merino was lucky to avoid punishment for that stamp on Garnacho, the former referee said:
“Absolutely, Anthony Taylor is really close up to that and overall I thought he had a good game. There’s malice in that challenge from that player, and it is a stamp, and it is avoidable.
*“Where was VAR? This for me I think he’s fortunate to escape a red card, it is a stamping offence and it might look innocuous but the reality is it’s those types of challenges that put people out of the game.*“
After Arsenal were rightly denied a penalty when Ayden Heaven handled inside the Man United penalty area, Declan Rice would equalise for the Gunners with around 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Even so, they were unable to find a winner in this game, meaning they are now 15 points behind Liverpool in the race for the title.
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