Why Eberechi Eze’s First Goal Against Tottenham Stood Valid

Eberechi Eze’s first goal against Tottenham has sparked renewed discussions regarding the offside rule in the Premier League. During a key match at Emirates Stadium, Eze scored, giving Arsenal a two-goal lead just before halftime. The goal came amidst protests from Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who claimed that offside players blocked his view of the incoming shot.

Eze’s Goal and VAR Decision

VAR intervened to review the situation. According to a statement from the Premier League Match Centre, the referee’s decision to award the goal was upheld. They determined that no Arsenal player obstructed Vicario’s line of sight or made an action that directly influenced the play while in an offside position.

Context of the Offside Debate

Eze’s goal follows a similar incident involving Virgil van Dijk, whose equalizer for Liverpool was disallowed against Manchester City due to an offside player interfering with the goalkeeper. In that case, the action was deemed an “obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper.”

Players Involved

• Eberechi Eze – Scorer of the first and second goals for Arsenal.
• Guglielmo Vicario – Tottenham’s goalkeeper who protested the goal.
• Martin Zubimendi – Offside player who was in the line of sight.
• Leandro Trossard – Another offside player who may have obstructed vision.
• Micky van de Ven – Tottenham defender present during the goal.
• Kevin Danso – Another defender for Tottenham during the incident.

Expert Opinions

Former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand expressed his confusion over the VAR decision. He questioned how the positioning of Arsenal players did not affect the goalkeeper’s sight, highlighting the ongoing controversies surrounding the offside rule.

The Match’s Outcome

Following Eze’s first goal, he quickly scored again after halftime, boosting Arsenal’s lead to 3-0. This put the team in a strong position to extend their lead in the Premier League standings by six points.