Alvaro Arbeloa shoots back at Premier League officials after Man Utd drama
Alvaro Arbeloa was really upset with the Premier League officials after Manchester United’s late equaliser against Fulham. Arbeloa was close to getting his first league win as Fulham’s coach when a strange own goal by Lisandro Martinez put United ahead with just 27 minutes left.
But then, in the 89th minute, Matheus Cunha scored a deflected goal that broke Fulham’s hearts and left them with a draw. This means Fulham have only gotten 2 points from their last 15 in the league.
Fulham now go into the three-week international break at the bottom of the table along with Tottenham. Arbeloa wished things were different because he thought his team deserved all three points.
He was especially angry about a free-kick given to United just 35 seconds before the goal, for a foul on Harry Maguire that he thought was soft. Arbeloa said the referee, Peter Bankes, seemed to give every foul to United, just like in their last game against Manchester City.
“Every decision was for them,” Arbeloa told Sky Sports after the game. “I knew after the City match they wouldn’t let Manchester United lose here. We deserved more.”
Arbeloa felt unlucky and said it was a tough game against a big team, especially with how the officials were calling things.
However, some moments went Fulham’s way, like a handball call against Calvin Bassey that was reviewed by VAR but not given as a penalty. Former player Louis Saha said it was a tough call and Bassey’s reaction was natural.
“It’s kind of 50:50,” Saha explained. “With the rules now, sometimes it goes one way, sometimes the other. It’s confusing.”
After the break, Fulham face Ipswich Town on October 10, while Manchester United will host Tottenham at Old Trafford.