Arsene Wenger insists that any wrong calls from the linesman or referee Mike Dean on Saturday had no impact on the final result.
When asked whether some of Dean’s calls played a part in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Spurs, Wenger was adamant that they had no impact and, as the boss pointed out, Arsenal had an offside goal given against them during their defeat to Manchester City.
“I don’t think (they had an impact),” said Wenger. “Two weeks ago we conceded a goal that was a yard offside and no-one said it was offside.
“When we concede the goals it’s normal. And yet when it’s maybe, you have to answer about it in a press conference.”
Shkodran Mustafi was a tad offside when he scored his header in the first half of the North London Derby. It was during a set-piece and the German got into the perfect position to glance Mesut Ozil’s free-kick off his head into the top left corner, just out of Hugo Lloris’ reach.
Was it offside? Marginally.
@SkySportsNews @BBCMOTD @henrywinter @johncrossmirror @SpursOfficial before telling everyone Mustafi was offside perhaps we can have a picture of his position when the ball was actually played and not when it’s 6 inches off the floor. I’ll wait. #biasedmedia pic.twitter.com/9Kjg7qlFhC
— Lee Hisscött (@ArsenalHisscott) November 19, 2017
However, there were also calls that went in Spurs’ favour. Yellows were given to Arsenal players and then withheld when the visitors put in similar challenges. In the first six minutes, Alexandre Lacazette’s goal was ruled out after Jan Vertonghen threw himself to the ground and Mesut Ozil was penalised. And Mustafi was also having his shirt pulled during the free-kick that led to his goal.
If Arsenal had nabbed the win by one offside goal after putting in a lacklustre performance, maybe Spurs could feel hard done-by, but the Gunners played Mauricio Pochettino’s side off the pitch.
Dean’s decisions – for once – meant nothing.