Mikel Arteta's Arsenal took charge of the first North London derby of the 2025/26 campaign with goals from Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze in the first half – but many were under the impression that Eze's goal in the 41st minute should have been disallowed as there were a sea of bodies in Guglielmo Vicario's eyeline. The Premier League has now provided a reason behind the decision.
After a poor first half an hour from both sides, it was Arsenal's Trossard who drew first blood in the 36th minute as midfielder-turned-striker Mikel Merino scooped a ball into the vicinity of the Belgian, who shot first time to open the scoring. Eze, who had the chance to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2025, then provided a sucker punch for the Gunners just minutes later.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Arsenal have scored in each of their last 27 Premier League home games against Tottenham, and have now netted at least twice in each of the last nine.
Doubling their lead with a brilliantly-worked goal, Eze was found with a pass by Declan Rice. He skipped beyond two challenges in the Tottenham danger area before guiding his right-footed shot through a melee of bodies between himself and Vicario. However, there were concerns over the eligibility of the Englishman's strike given Vicario's line of vision was impeded by Arsenal players.
Watch Eberechi Eze's goal against Tottenham Hotspur:
Premier League Explain Michael Oliver's Decision to Allow Eze Goal in North London Derby
As seen in the footage above, Eze – who scored not long after both sides re-emerged from the half-time interval to make it three for Arteta and his men – let rip inside the 18-yard box to double his side's lead and, although it shows they are attempting to get out the way, both Trossard and Martin Zubimendi are clearly in the way of Vicario's vision. As a result, the Italian shot stopper was unable to react to the deflections.
Clearing up any confusion, the Premier League Match Centre took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that Michael Oliver's initial decision was checked by VAR. There were, however, no players in Arsenal colours in front of Guglielmo Vicario, it was claimed, and that's why the goal was allowed to stand.
"The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that there were no Arsenal players in the line of vision of the goalkeeper, and they made no movement to impact an opponent while in an offside position."
Vicario, given his vision – and ability to save Eze's shot – was impaired, gestured to the refereet to insist that he couldn't see and Gary Neville, on co-commentary alongside Peter Drury, noted the action but added that VAR had "looked at" and subsequently "dismissed" any idea that Oliver would reverse his original decision.
Spurs legend Les Ferdinand, who was joined by Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports at half-time, had plenty to say about Oliver's decision to not chalk off Eze's first. Per The Daily Star, the former centre-forward claimed that he was surprised that Eze's goal was allowed to stand given Vicario's sight was affected.
"I will say, I don't understand how this [Arsenal players] doesn't affect the goalkeepers sight [on the second goal]. I'm not sure how that's not been looked at."
Despite the goal being checked and cleared by those manning VAR, there can be comparisons drawn between Eze's first of the affair and Virgil van Dijk's header against Manchester City earlier this month. The Liverpool skipper nodded home in the 38th minute of the match – but it was later chalked off as Andy Robertson was deemed to be in the eyeline of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.