Arsenal Fans Furious After Wall Positioned Too Far Back for Bruno Fernandes' Brilliant Free-Kick

Arsenal fans expressed frustration following a pivotal moment in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Just before halftime, Bruno Fernandes converted a free-kick that opened the scoring for United. However, controversy arose over the positioning of Arsenal's defensive wall during this set-piece.

Sky Sports analysis revealed that the wall was positioned 11.2 yards from the ball, exceeding the standard 10-yard requirement. This additional distance provided Fernandes with extra space, potentially influencing the trajectory and success of his strike. United midfielder Christian Eriksen acknowledged this advantage, stating that the increased distance made it easier for Fernandes to get the ball over the wall. 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commented on the incident, recognizing Fernandes' cleverness in exploiting the situation but refraining from criticizing referee Anthony Taylor's decision. While some fans and analysts debated the fairness of the wall's placement, others pointed to goalkeeper David Raya's positioning as a contributing factor to the goal. Raya was positioned unusually close to his right-hand post, leaving a significant area unguarded. Arteta noted that Fernandes had been smarter than the referee and the team in this instance. 

Despite these controversies, Arsenal managed to equalize in the 74th minute through Declan Rice's powerful strike. However, they couldn't find a winner, and the match concluded with both teams sharing the points. This result leaves Arsenal 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand, posing challenges to their title aspirations.