The exciting quarter-final first leg of the Champions League between Arsenal and Bayern Munich (2-2) almost turned on Tuesday into a grotesque and unprecedented situation at such a level. 67th minute of play: the score is then 1-2 and three changes have just been made, six meters to come for David Raya. The referee blows the whistle, and the Gunners goalkeeper slips a short throw, on the ground, to his central defender Gabriel, located three meters from him. Until then, nothing but very classic, we grant you that.
Except that instead of initiating an attack, the former Losc defender seizes the ball with his left hand and places it on the six-meter line, as if nothing had happened, to in turn serve from left foot David Raya. Neither seen nor known, really? Not for Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane, who immediately raise their arms while looking for Glenn Nyberg.
“It’s a horrible explanation”
But the Swedish referee will let the game continue without intervening, and Arsenal will equalize later through Leandro Trossard (2-2, 76th). We could count on Harry Kane, scorer from the penalty spot in the first period (1-2, 32nd), to return to this improbable episode after the match. “OK, it’s a stupid mistake, but it’s clearly a penalty. It’s football, that’s how it is,” lamented the English center forward at Prime Video. Thomas Tuchel also insisted on repeating it, in a much more vehement manner.
“ We could have won, there was a 100% penalty that we didn’t get for a handball in the area. It hurts at this level. The referee made a huge mistake, he lacked courage. I know it’s a crazy situation, but what makes us angry is the explanation on the ground. He told our players that it was a childish mistake, that it doesn’t happen in the quarter-final of the Champions League. It’s a new form of rule, it’s incredible, it’s a horrible explanation. Childish mistake or adult mistake, it doesn’t matter. »
Gabriel’s (26-year-old) “kid” act therefore did not have the serious consequences that the strict regulations could impose. The scenario almost became even more frustrating for Thomas Tuchel’s players, eight days before the return match in Bavaria, since Bukayo Saka claimed a penalty at the end of added time, after a (light) contact with Manuel Neuer (2- 2, 90th+5). We hardly dare imagine the reaction of the former PSG coach if Glenn Nyberg had whistled on this one.