Alan Shearer has criticised match officials for allowing Eberechi Eze's goal to stand during Arsenal's North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The former England striker believes the strike should have been ruled out for offside.
Eze doubled Arsenal's lead shortly before half-time, shooting through a crowded penalty area. Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso attempted to block the effort, while Martin Zubimendi and Leandro Trossard stood in an offside position behind them, seemingly in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's line of sight. Referee Michael Oliver awarded the goal, and VAR officials Stuart Attwell and Constantine Hatzidakis upheld the decision.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said officials were 'petrified' to make the correct call. He said: "This first one should have been offside. I just honestly think that the referees and the VAR have got themselves in such a pickle with this situation. I thought they were petrified to give the correct decision." He added that the players in front of the goalkeeper were clearly in his line of sight.
Micah Richards echoed Shearer's frustration, questioning the lack of consistency in such decisions. He said: "It either is offside or it isn't. If someone's in front of the goalkeeper... why don't they just give it offside?" Gary Lineker also weighed in, suggesting officials are overcomplicating matters. He said: "When I played, if you were offside, you were offside. That was it."
Shearer referenced recent controversial decisions, including a disallowed Liverpool goal against Manchester City involving Virgil van Dijk, as evidence that officials have lost confidence. He said they 'panicked' and made the wrong decision, though he acknowledged Eze's strike was still a great finish.
