Andy Gray believes that Granit Xhaka’s rocket for Arsenal against Manchester United shouldn’t have been allowed.
Xhaka killed off the game as a contest at the Emirates Stadium by making it 3-1 to Arsenal in the final quarter, with that being the winning scoreline in the end.
With virtually no backlift, the Switzerland rifled a shot past Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea from outside the box.
Just in front of De Gea there was Eddie Nketiah, however.
And Gray, speaking to BeIN Sport, is absolutely certain that the Spanish keeper would’ve saved Xhaka’s effort if not for Nketiah – who was stood in an offside position – interfering with De Gea’s line of sight.
He said: “I’m sorry Eddie. You have hugely interfered with the goalkeeper’s attempt. He’s already having to look past him. He is interfering with him. Full stop. They don’t know about football. I guarantee you – 100 percent – that if he [Nketiah] isn’t there, he saves it.”
Is Gray right?
Well, you can certainly see De Gea try to look past Nketiah just before Xhaka’s effort ripples the net.
The Red Devils stopper nearly got a hand on the Swiss midfielder’s piledriver and maybe, just maybe, Gray is correct in saying that he would’ve saved the shot if not for Nketiah’s perceived interference.
In any case, Arsenal moved into fourth spot in the Premier League and, in the process, made it ever-so unlikely that United nick that final Champions League qualification spot, with the latter now six points adrift – and having played a game more.
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