Manchester United Furious as Riccardo Calafiori’s Controversial Goal Sinks Them Against Arsenal
Ex-referee Mark Clattenburg claims Arsenal’s winning goal against Manchester United should have been disallowed as Ruben Amorim’s side face fresh scrutiny over their goalkeeper situation.
Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils were left feeling hard done by after Riccardo Calafiori’s winning goal was allowed to stand.
The decisive moment came in the first half when Declan Rice whipped in a corner. United’s stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, filling in for the injured André Onana, attempted to punch the ball clear but failed to make proper contact. William Saliba was positioned close to him, creating contact that some felt restricted Bayindir’s movement. The ball dropped kindly to Calafiori, who nodded it into the back of the net to give Arsenal all three points.
United players immediately protested, with Bayindir claiming he had been impeded, but referee and VAR allowed the goal to stand. The decision has sparked debate among pundits, refereeing experts, and fans.
Clattenburg: “Bayindir Was Impeded”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg reviewed the incident and admitted that United had a case.
“In real time, I did not see any problem with Arsenal’s goal,” Clattenburg told United in Focus. “But when you watch it in slow motion, you can see Mason Mount was having his shirt pulled and Bayindir was being impeded while challenging for the ball. PGMOL said they would punish this type of challenge more, but again they failed.”
Clattenburg’s comments echoed the frustration inside Old Trafford, with many supporters pointing to recent promises by refereeing authorities that goalkeepers would receive more protection in set-piece situations.
Neville: “The Goalkeeper Has to Be Stronger”
Not everyone agreed, though. Sky Sports pundit and former United captain Gary Neville argued that Bayindir should have done better, regardless of the contact.
“The goalkeeper has got to be stronger,” Neville said during commentary. “I think he will complain that he was fouled. He’s got a player in front of him, there’s a lot of pushing and shoving going on. I just think your goalkeeper has to be stronger.”
Neville’s criticism reignited the debate over United’s goalkeeping department. With Onana sidelined, Bayindir was handed his first major test in the Premier League — and many felt he struggled under pressure.
Calls for a New Goalkeeper
The ongoing uncertainty has led some to believe United need a bigger personality between the posts. Neville suggested United should look at Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez or Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is reportedly unsettled in France.
“The big personalities, the ones who can handle pressure, that’s what United need,” Neville explained.
Wayne Rooney agreed, voicing his support for a move for Donnarumma:
“Donnarumma, I think he’s 26, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It would be crazy if Man United don’t go for him,” Rooney said on his podcast.
Amorim Backs His Goalkeepers
Despite the noise around the goalkeeping situation, United manager Ruben Amorim stood firmly behind his current options. Speaking after the match, he insisted he was satisfied with Bayindir and the rest of his squad.
“I’m happy with the three goalkeepers,” Amorim said. “I think we proved today that we can win any game in the Premier League, especially against a great team like Arsenal. We were the better team for large parts, and I’m happy with the players.”
Arsenal’s Set-Piece Strength Exposed United
For Arsenal, the win was another demonstration of their growing reputation as a set-piece powerhouse. Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have become one of the league’s most dangerous sides from corners and free-kicks. United’s weakness in these situations was ruthlessly targeted, with Saliba occupying Bayindir and Calafiori left unmarked at the far post.
The defeat will sting for United, especially given how hard they worked to stay in the game. For Amorim, the challenge now is twofold: finding consistency in his goalkeeping department and ensuring the team recovers quickly from their opening-day setback.
