Cunha penalty, Mbeumo missed red card, Calafiori goal complaints - Man Utd vs Arsenal referee review

Arsenal managed to steal a one-goal win away from Manchester United after overcoming the mounting pressure from countless attacks the home side sprung upon them. Referee Simon Hooper became the target of the Arsenal supporters throughout the game, with the official’s full name being chanted alongside, "it's all about you!"

However, fans of both teams ended the game with complaints about how the match was officiated. From the Arsenal goal, scored by Riccardo Calafiori, to a late penalty call on William Saliba after preventing Matheus Cunha from scoring, there were plenty of contentious moments.

It might be early in the campaign, but these moments can be influential come May. Hooper is in focus for football.london as we embark on our first referee review of the Premier League season.

Bryan Mbeumo red card claims

Only a couple of minutes in, and some Arsenal fans felt Bryan Mbeumo was guilty of a red card offence. Vying for a bouncing ball, the left arm of the Cameroonian comes out and connects with the face of Martin Zubimendi.

FL review: It looks bad but the reality is there is no malicious intent from Mbeumo here. Compare this to some of Joao Pedro's moments from last season and it is night and day.

If anything, Zubimendi is caught as a result of his small frame and the arm happens to go into his face, a taller player gets hit in the chest instead because the action from the winger would not change and hence is not violent conduct. Being in the ground, I remember watching Zubimendi smiling running back and sharing a moment with Hooper as he got back into position.

FL verdict: Correct call, no red card.

Arsenal goal and grappling

Arsenal opened the scoring early on in the first half through Riccardo Calafiori, who nodded in at the back post. William Saliba was accused of impeding Altay Bayindir by many on the Manchester side of the debate.

FL review: There is far too little going on for VAR to overturn this. William Saliba makes contact but the goalkeeper is simply not strong enough and should do more to get space and call on teammates to do more to get him that space.

Not to mention Luke Shaw all over Gabriel Magalhaes and Matheus Cunha on Martin Zubimendi as well. This "grappling" rule that has been introduced has a danger through it's broadness to see quite the inconsistent calls but on the opening weekend, the officials have laid down the benchmark for what is and what is not a foul and this time Arsenal benefit.

FL verdict: Correct decision – goal stands.

David Raya on Matheus Cunha

The first penalty shout from Man United was when David Raya produced a heavy touch that allowed Cunha to dart in to try claim the ball and the pair collided. Both went down and the forward looked to the officials for a foul.

FL review: It’s a bad moment for Raya but there is no foul here. Both collide shoulder to shoulder and the goalkeeper is stronger and manages to recover to get the ball.

FL verdict: Correct decision. No penalty.

William Saliba on Matheus Cunha penalty call

Arguably, the moment Manchester United supporters feel most aggrieved is when the ball is not given on the field and not turned over by the VAR as Saliba looks to prevent a late equalising chance from the United man whom he had kept quiet for large stretches of the game.

FL review: I've seen some suggest that if this is given by the referee, VAR would not overturn it. Well, had it been, I would certainly be viewing this as a refereeing error. He gets it spot on on the field.

Cunha makes the movement into Saliba rather than the Frenchman making a foul on Cunha. The defender is blocking the forward from the goal, a legal action, and the forward's momentum takes him into a fairly challenging Saliba.

FL verdict: Correct call, no penalty.

Simon Hooper frustrations

The match finished with Arsenal (19) making close to double the number of fouls as Manchester United (10), but this simply does not represent how the match was played. Hooper continuously gave free kicks against the Gunners, and when similar moments occurred against Arsenal, the players were left waiting for a whistle that never came.

It is no surprise that the Arsenal fans felt so hard done by that they devised a name-specific chant for Hooper. Kai Havertz was utterly flummoxed when he was fouled twice by the United corner flag in the second half, only for Hooper to blow and give a free-kick the other way.

Gabriel was pulled down in one instance by Mbeumo, and nothing was given. The following play nearly led to a goal. Thankfully for Arsenal, despite the inconsistent officiating, none of the decisions proved game-changing. Once again, the adage that they need to take the game away from the officials stands true here, and thankfully, they did.