Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick moaned to reporters after his side lost to Arsenal saying that VAR decisions went against them but, of course, he forgot to mention the two reds his side should have had as well.

Manchester United German Interim head coach Ralf Rangnick (R) gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 16, 2022.(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United German Interim head coach Ralf Rangnick (R) gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 16, 2022.(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

I won’t deny it. Against United, Arsenal got the luck of some VAR calls in ways we’re just not used to.

That seems to have been noticed by a load of pundits and, of course, the United manager.

Speaking to the media after the game, Rangnick said, “For me the Arsenal third [Granit Xhaka’s thunderbolt] was clearly offside. The second of Cristiano was not offside.

Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea cannot get a hand to a long-range shot from Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka as Arsenal take a 3-1 lead during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2022. - Arsenal won the game 3-1. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea cannot get a hand to a long-range shot from Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka as Arsenal take a 3-1 lead during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2022. – Arsenal won the game 3-1. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

“We were not very happy with the VAR decisions today. An improved display but a disappointing result.”

Leaving aside any debate around the calls he mentioned, you will notice there is no discussion of Bruno Fernandes studs-up challenge on Nuno Tavares that was about five minutes late.

That was as clear a red card as you will see and if you look at the image below the one thing you won’t see is the ball, because it’s long gone.

bruno fernandes on nuno tavaresThe other red, that nobody at all seems to be talking about, was for the challenge on Saka that gave away the penalty.

It was a clear goalscoring opportunity with Saka about to control the ball just a few yards from goal and no other defenders were getting anywhere near him.

The United player made no effort to play the ball, just bundling Saka over.

That, by the laws of the game, is a penalty AND a red card.

But we won’t mention those, will we?

No, we’ll just let United cry their salty tears all over the newspapers.