Erik ten Hag fumed at three decisions that went against Manchester United as they collapsed late on to lose 3-1 to Arsenal.
Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus scored in the 96th and 100th minute to hand the Gunners all three points in North London. Marcus Rashford had put United ahead in the first half, only for Martin Odegaard to equalise, just 35 seconds after play had restarted.
United thought they’d won it in the 88th minute, as substitute Alejandro Garnacho raced clear and coolly tucked into the bottom corner. But after the delirious celebrations of the away players and fans, VAR intervened to rule the Argentine youngster offside.
United’s Dutch boss was bitterly unhappy with that call and insisted that the technology had got the decision wrong. He insisted: “It’s not offside. [It’s the] Wrong angle.”
Pressed on his comments and that offside is a black and white issue and either is or isn’t, Ten Hag said: “It is, so we have to accept it. But I’ve seen the angle. I don’t see it as offside.”
Ten Hag also insisted that United should’ve been awarded a penalty – with the game level at 1-1 – for a foul on £72million new boy Rasmus Hojlund, after he was sent sprawling to the floor by Arsenal defender Gabriel.
And he was left raging by the game’s defining moment, Rice’s 96th minute winner, where the United boss insisted the match officials blundered again, with Gabriel appearing to block Jonny Evans in the penalty area.
“It’s a penalty on Hojlund,” raged Ten Hag. “And at the end we concede a goal, and it’s a foul on Jonny Evans. It’s so clear and obvious.”
The United boss was however happy with his side’s display, despite their defeat.
“I think the performance is right. I think we played a very good game,” he added. “But everything went against us. With a little bit more luck, you win the game”.
“OK, we can tell, finish your chances, don’t concede a goal after you go 1-0 up, that’s all true, but I think we took a step forward with the performance”.