Supporters of Arsenal have taken to social media in their droves during the first-half of their North London derby clash with Tottenham this afternoon, after a controversial offside call saw the Gunners denied a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity.
Matchup
The Gunners travelled to Wembley today on the back of a morale-boosting 5-1 victory over Everton last weekend, with January signings Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both impressing in their first starts for the club.
Tottenham, meanwhile, dispatched of Newport County by 2 goals to nil in the FA Cup 4th round during the week, with their last Premier League outing having seen Mauricio Pochettino’s men twice fight back from behind to secure a remarkable point at Anfield versus Liverpool.
Team news
The starting XIs of both sides were announced an hour prior to kick-off, with Spurs’ January signing Lucas Moura having to make do with a place on the bench for the hosts:
#THFC: Lloris (C), Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane. #COYS pic.twitter.com/vawK6Mfta3
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 10, 2018
👀 @LucasMoura7 is involved in our matchday squad for the first time this afternoon! #COYS pic.twitter.com/rKlEbfQr9C
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 10, 2018
Arsenal, meanwhile, were forced into a late reshuffle, following news that Aaron Ramsey was set to miss out this afternoon through injury:
Rambo misses today’s game with a minor groin problem – get well soon, @aaronramsey 💪#THFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/BPV550ZF4R
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 10, 2018
As a result, Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere both came into the Gunners’ midfield, with Arsene Wenger clearly of the opinion that the battle for supremacy in the middle of the park would prove crucial this afternoon:
📋 Here it us – our team for this afternoon’s north London derby at Wembley#THFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/DhBPWoOaVe
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 10, 2018
First-half
The early goings of today’s crunch derby saw Tottenham control the majority of the possession, with Arsenal looking dangerous on the break on a couple of occasions.
Chances of note were few and far between over the opening half-hour, aside from a Harry Kane header nodded disappointingly over the bar by the Englishman.
However, there was a major question of what could have been for Arsenal with just 11 minutes on the clock, as Jack Wilshere’s gorgeous slide-rule pass sent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clean through on the home side’s goal.
The Gabonese hitman looked to have timed his run perfectly, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside.
Immediate replays showcased the fact that Aubameyang in fact looked to be onside, though, with Jan Vertonghen having been stood ever so slightly behind the rest of Tottenham’s defensive line.
Reaction
Arsenal’s fans quickly took to Twitter to make their frustration at the decision known, with some of the best roundup below:
Beautiful pass from Wilshere, and Aubameyang was onside. pic.twitter.com/f81XAv2T01
— Dezil Dez (@DezilDezz) February 10, 2018
Aubameyang was onside.
Fuck these refs— Ö (@OzilVision11) February 10, 2018
Nothing tight there. Aubameyang was ONSIDE
— Starts With J… (@judy_that) February 10, 2018
Aubameyang was onside.
— Ayowale (@aroayowale) February 10, 2018
Fuck Tottenham. Aubameyang played onside by Vertonghen there, refs can’t seem to spot any correct offside calls when it’s a Spurs game.
— 🚮 (@Go_ringer) February 10, 2018
If Kane was onside then Aubameyang definitely was. Inconsistent arseholes.
— Highbury Harold (@BlackScarfAFC) February 10, 2018
Aubameyang onside given offside. Incompetent refs trying to cover up last weeks wrong decision against him.
— A Dream of Highbury (@1886FC) February 10, 2018
When Kane’s arm is offside its onside, when Aubameyang’s arm is in the same position he is offside.
— Zibo🍒 (@Classy_Lad) February 10, 2018
Aubameyang onside the wankers
— Jason (@JasonJhuti) February 10, 2018
My word we need VAR or Spurs will win the league with cheating like this… Aubameyang clearly onside there.
— . (@AnfieldAn) February 10, 2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the main difference between Wenger & Mourinho