Paul Merson Questions Gabriel’s Winning Goal in North London Derby

Gabriel’s Winner Against Tottenham: Should It Have Been Disallowed?

Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory in the North London derby against Tottenham, but there has been controversy surrounding Gabriel’s match-winning goal. Tottenham fans and pundits are questioning whether the goal should have stood, with claims that the Brazilian defender may have committed a foul before scoring.

The decisive moment of the match came in the 64th minute, when Gabriel rose above Tottenham’s defenders to head home a corner delivered by Bukayo Saka. While Arsenal celebrated their victory, replays showed that Tottenham defender Romero appeared to be pushed by Gabriel before the goal, raising doubts about its legitimacy.

What the Pundits Said

Former Arsenal playmaker Paul Merson weighed in on the incident during his post-match analysis on Sky Sports. Merson suggested that Romero may have had a case for a foul, saying, “I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get a foul. The defending wasn’t good, but Gabriel gave a push, and it’s the kind of contact that could have been penalized.”

Former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand also expressed frustration, echoing Merson’s sentiments. Ferdinand said:

“If a centre forward does that, the referee gives a foul against him. They don’t even look at it, and it feels unfair. While Romero could have been stronger, the push in the back clearly affected his balance.”

Should the Goal Have Stood?

From Tottenham’s perspective, the incident adds frustration to an already difficult result. Gabriel’s physicality, combined with Romero’s defensive positioning, left Spurs fans and pundits feeling that a foul could have been called. Despite the contact, the goal stood, and Arsenal walked away with all three points, leaving Tottenham to reflect on a missed opportunity and defensive lapses.