Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes a game-changing mistake took place as Manchester United lost to Arsenal.
The 2025/26 Premier League season opened with Manchester United losing 1-0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
New signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo impressed, but despite their efforts, they were unable to find the back of the net.
In the end, it was Riccardo Calafiori’s headed goal from a corner that made the difference, but Arsenal’s winner didn’t come without controversy.
United struggled against Arsenal’s set pieces again, having suffered defeat in North London last season by the same method.
Altay Bayindir was chosen to start ahead of Andre Onana following his pre-season performances, but he was targeted by Mikel Arteta’s side at every set-piece opportunity.
For Arsenal’s goal, William Saliba was wrestling with Mason Mount while also trying to stop Bayindir from reaching the cross.
United in Focus exclusively spoke to former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg about the incident, and he believes the goal should not have stood.
“In real time, I did not see any problem with Arsenal’s goal, 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 more this type of challenge, but again they failed.”
Clearly, Clattenburg feels that match referee Simon Hooper and the VAR team at Stockley Park came to the wrong conclusion around Arsenal’s goal.
As per Sky Sports, referees were told to “crack down on grappling at set pieces” before the season started, as per instructions from the PGMOL chiefs.
However, in the very first match of the 2025/26 season, United have been victims of holding from a set-piece situation.
United legend Jaap Stam also feels as though Arsenal’s goal should have been disallowed.
“It’s a clear foul! Stop looking at the goalkeeper, it’s a foul on Mason Mount!” Stam said after watching the goal.
