Dominik Szoboszlai's incredible free-kick for Liverpool on Sunday saw the Reds beat Arsenal 1-0, in what already looked to be a six-pointer in the Premier League title race - but former Reds striker Michael Owen believes that had the Gunners not positioned a wall in front of the makeshift right-back, the Hungarian may not have taken a shot - with the Ballon d'Or winner calling the wall 'a hinderance' to David Raya.
Szoboszlai's emphatic late strike saw the ball fly past Raya off the post, handing Arne Slot's side three huge points to remain the only side with a 100 percent record in the Premier League, already being touted as one of the goals of the season despite being in August - dipping over three Arsenal players in the wall in the process.
Michael Owen: Arsenal Wall 'Was a Hinderance' to David Raya for Szoboszlai's Free Kick
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring vs Arsenal.
Premier League - Liverpool v Arsenal - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2025 Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Phil Noble
However, despite it being an objectively brilliant strike from the former RB Leipzig man, Owen believes that the Spanish stopper was 'hindered' by his players lining up slightly left of centre of the goal, meaning that he had to scamper over to the other post and ultimately being unable to keep the ball out.
Speaking on Premier League Productions' live coverage of the title clash on Sunday, Owen said:
"At 32.2 yards, to be honest, if you put a ball there and say 'can you score from that far out?', then I'm probably saying no.
"Probably. I've said it before, I think the wall in this situation is a hinderance. I don't know but I think soon, when the ball is that far out at over 32 yards, if the goalkeeper stands in the middle and there is no wall, I bet he doesn't even have to dive, he could just shuffle and catch it.
"The wall in that situation is a hinderance. They don't get to see it, it gives somebody a target to hit it over. The goalkeeper always has to shuffle to one side of the goal or the other. If he just stands in the middle and there is nothing in front of him, what would happen is the opponents would start blocking and the opponents would make their own wall.
"That just shows you that the free-kick taker wants a wall there! It gives them a point of reference. Don't get be wrong, 20 yards out you do need a wall. But over 32 yards out, I think a wall is a hinderance to a goalkeeper."
It could well prove to be a huge moment in the title race if Arsenal are unable to take points off of their Merseyside rivals in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium in early January, ultimately giving Slot's side a headstart - and those pivotal moments could even spark change in how free-kicks are approached from a defensive point of view.
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