Surprise at Ziggo Sport after Arsenal

Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 4:21 PM• Chris Meijer

The penalty kick that Manchester City received during the away game against Arsenal (1-2 win) is causing the necessary discussion. Jan van Halst judges in the studio of Ziggo Sports that the ball went right on the dot after Bernardo Silva went to the ground in a duel with Granit Xhaka. The analyst is particularly critical of Xhaka’s actions during the moment in question, which ultimately turned the game around.

Arsenal took the lead in the first half with a goal from Bukayo Saka, but a close penalty from Riyad Mahrez and a goal by Rodri in stoppage time gave Manchester City a 1–2 victory. Between .’s two goals the Citizens in Gabriel Magalhães received his second yellow and thus red card. “It was just stupidly defended,” says Van Halst about Xhaka’s foul on Bernardo Silva. The penalty was eventually awarded for interference by VAR.

“First of all, stand on your heels as a defender. Then he runs into you, causing you to fall. He still takes two more steps. But pulling the shirt in particular is just a violation. That’s just stupid,” emphasizes Van Halst. “You can say he falls like a dying swan. No, he pulls on his shirt. He likes to fall, but it’s so stupid. If you’re defending inside the penalty area, you shouldn’t let anyone run into you anyway. Do not slide. Well, that doesn’t happen here. But pull a shirt… Geez.”

“This is not a novice, is it. The reaction is impotence, he knows it. He thinks: what an idiot I am that I did this. You give away the entire match in a few seconds,” continues Van Halst about Xhaka. He is also critical of Gabriel, who got his first print for protesting and received the second yellow card for a wild foul on Gabriel Jesus. “This is a stupid offence. How can you go through this as a defender? What rudeness. On the center line. He played a good pot, so this is totally unnecessary. A shame for Arsenal too.”