Premier League must consider a rule change after what happened during Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham (opinion)

Yesterday at 04:56 PM

Arsenal and Tottenham played out an eventful north London derby clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

A volley from Heung-min Son gave Spurs a shock lead, after Arsenal, who are in talks to sign Martin Zubimendi, had penned Tottenham inside their own half for most of the opening 20 minutes.

An own goal from Dominic Solanke then saw Arsenal equalise in the 40th minute, before Leandro Trossard swiftly made it 2-1 in the 44th minute with a driven strike, which Antonin Kinsky ought to have saved.

However, just before Arsenal made it 1-1 from yet another corner, something happened which we feel should prompt the Premier League to consider a rule change.

VAR should start to verify the awarding of corners and throw-ins

In our view, the Premier League and the Football Association (FA) should amend the rulebook to ensure VAR checks the validity of a corner or throw-in.

As things stand, those in the VAR booth at Stockley Park are allowed to spend ages checking whether a player’s toe is marginally offside, but are advised not to see whether a referee or linesman has awarded a corner or throw-in the correct way, which would only take a few seconds to check in comparison.

The corner which saw Arsenal equalise against Tottenham appeared to have been wrongly awarded by Simon Hooper, as the ball seemingly bounced back off Trossard after hitting Pedro Porro.

Martin Keown described Hooper’s incorrect call as “very lucky” for Arsenal when speaking on TNT Sports at the interval – we feel that something so easy to check, and quick to examine as well, should be placed in the rulebook from the start of next season.

Tottenham have every right to be furious

Ange Postecoglou could be seen having words with Hooper and his assistants as both sides headed down the tunnel for half-time, and the Australian has a right to be annoyed.

Tottenham, who have missed out on Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus, weathered the storm impressively before Son opened the scoring, but then appeared to become unsettled by Solanke’s own goal – which should never have happened with Hooper stood so close to the double ricochet off Trossard.

Ultimately, it was a decision which cost Spurs dearly in the north London derby.