Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has offered on his verdict on Arsenal's controversial opener against Manchester United ruling it was the correct decision.
David de Gea went to ground in a heap after being caught by Fred during a tussle in the build-up to the Gunners corner in the first half, but as United only partially cleared, play continued and Emile Smith Rowe fired from outside the box into the net.
Despite protests from the hosts and a review from VAR, Martin Atkinson saw no wrongdoing in the goal despite the shot-stopper out of action on the floor.
There were calls for the goal to be chalked off for a similar ruling to how head injuries are officiated but Gallagher dismissed this claim.
Bruno Fernades did spare his goalkeepers blushes with the equaliser on the verge of half-time, ending his longest goal drought with United. The Reds went on to pick up their first home win since September as Cristiano Ronaldo's brace proved to be the difference.
The referee blew the whistle as the England international's effort nestled in the back of the net but after consultation with Andre Marriner at Stockley Park, they concluded that the goal should stand.
To which the former official agreed, he told Sky Sports' Ref Watch: "De Gea on the floor before the ball had crossed the line, that's checked, no he hadn't the ball had crossed the line, the balls gone in the net.
"Under law, all he can do is give a goal because no foul occurred and no offence occurred. Head injuries are a different side of football altogether. If a referee sees a head injury, he's duty-bound to stop it as quick as possible, if there's a clash of heads you see referees throughout all leagues cascading to the local parks referee will stop the game and have the player treated.
"When Martin Atkinson looked up, you could see De Gea was on the floor then he's got to access the situation, he could only do that when the ball had entered the net."
Gallagher added that the situation that unfolded in the first half was something he never witnessed in his two decades of officiating in the English top-flight.
He added: "We can only deal with what happened, it was a very very unusual situation in itself, that's why to Martin's credit he took time, discussed it with the VAR they checked the images.
"It was a very, very unusual situation, the 22 years I refereed I can't remember an incident like this so you can imagine the two of them would've had to walk it through 'has this happened, has this happened' Martin Atkinson's took the information and in law, it is a goal."
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