Gary Neville and Ange Postecoglou agree on Arsenal vs Tottenham penalty incident

Gary Neville defends Cristian Romero after he was penalized for handball in the North London Derby against Arsenal.

In a recent North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, former Premier League defender Gary Neville came to the defense of Cristian Romero after he was penalized for a handball incident. The match took a turn for the worse for Spurs when Romero was accused of handling the ball inside the box, thus denying William Saliba's strike. This pivotal moment led to a lengthy VAR check, with referee Robert Jones eventually awarding a penalty to Arsenal.

Neville, providing live commentary on Sky Sports, expressed his disagreement with the decision. As a former defender himself, he argued that the handball should not have been given against Romero. He pointed out that the numerous replays viewed by VAR suggested uncertainty surrounding the incident. In his view, Romero's defensive instinct led him to put his knee on the floor and raise his arm, which he believed to be a natural position when attempting to block a shot. Neville acknowledged that opinions may differ on this matter, but he questioned the certainty of the decision after such extensive review.

Despite the significance of the penalty, Neville cautioned against overselling its impact on Arsenal's overall performance in the match. He emphasized that there was still a long way to go and that the outcome was far from certain. While Romero and Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo may have been displeased with the decision, Neville commended Arsenal's Bukayo Saka for his composure in the face of the situation.

The cameras captured the reaction of Tottenham manager Antonio Conte on the touchline following the penalty decision. The Australian coach appeared visibly unhappy with the referee's call, shaking his head in disagreement.

Overall, the North London Derby was marked by controversy and differing opinions on the handball incident involving Cristian Romero. Gary Neville, drawing from his experience as a former Premier League defender, voiced his support for Romero and questioned the certainty of the decision after such extensive VAR review. The match continued with both teams seeking to overcome this setback, and the reactions of the managers added to the drama of the intense rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham.

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