Wayne Rooney has criticized the officiating in Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea, insisting defender Gabriel should have been sent off for an incident involving Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Xabi Alonso's Chelsea, keeping both the champions and their opponents unbeaten before kickoff. Morgan Rogers, once a target for Arsenal, put Chelsea ahead within the opening two minutes at the Emirates. Kai Havertz then leveled the score against his former employers, before captain Martin Odegaard netted the decisive goal in the second half to secure all three points for the hosts.
However, the result was overshadowed by a controversial moment shortly after Chelsea's early opener. Gabriel appeared to kick Martinez in the head while the goalkeeper held the ball inside his own penalty area. The incident sparked visible fury among several Chelsea players, and Martinez needed medical treatment before he was able to continue.
Referee Chris Kavanagh did not see the incident clearly, as his line of sight was obstructed by players, and no review was triggered despite the availability of VAR technology.
Appearing on BBC's Match of the Day, Rooney voiced strong disapproval of the decision not to punish Gabriel. "You don't really see it at first sight but then when you see a replay and they slow it down… Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top," Rooney said. "He's extremely lucky to stay on the pitch."
Former England international Ashley Young echoed those sentiments, expressing surprise that the incident wasn't reviewed more thoroughly by officials. "When the ball is on the floor and Martinez has it, Gabriel kicks so high. I'm not sure why it hasn't gone to VAR or if they've properly studied it because he's nowhere near the ball," Young said. "He's got away with one there."
Despite the controversy, Arsenal's victory allowed them to maintain their unblemished record to start the campaign, matching Chelsea's own perfect run before the match. The result also continued a personal theme for Havertz, who scored against the club that sold him to Arsenal.
Both sides now shift focus to other competitions this week. Arsenal will look to carry their domestic momentum into the Champions League, where they face Napoli in a highly anticipated European fixture. Meanwhile, Chelsea will regroup quickly, turning their attention to the Carabao Cup, where they are set to face Leeds United on Wednesday.
The debate over the Gabriel incident is likely to continue in the coming days, with pundits and fans alike questioning whether the current use of VAR technology is sufficient to catch such moments during matches, especially when a referee's view is compromised by player positioning. For now, though, Arsenal will take the three points and the continuation of their strong start to the season, even as questions linger about the fairness of the outcome given the missed red card opportunity.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.