ARSENAL 10-2 BOURNEMOUTH | ARTETA'S ANGRY INTERVIEW | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

 

WHAT A GAME! MANCHESTER UNITED VS. AFC BOURNEMOUTH | PREMIER LEAGUE

 

ANTOINE SEMENYO HAS TOLD MAN UNITED EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEEDED AMID £65M CLAUSE

AFC Bournemouth's top goal-scorer Antoine Semenyo is a man in demand ahead of the January transfer window and Manchester United have been linked to him.

Antoine Semenyo will be a wanted man during the January transfer window.(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Just for once, Manchester United couldn't be criticised too much for how the summer transfer window played out. Considering the lack of Champions League football this season, it always seemed like it would be difficult to attract players to the club and, yet, they managed to address the major concerns.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko were brought in to bolster an attack which stuttered badly last season. Senne Lammens was signed to improve the goalkeeping ranks and he has managed to do that well. The only area of the pitch seemingly neglected was midfield, but it was agreed that was further down the priority list at that juncture.

It's only as the season has progressed though that United's attack has shown signs of needing further investment. Many assumed Joshua Zirkzee would have more involvement than he has considering Rasmus Hojlund left, but he does not seem to be trusted by Ruben Amorim.

It has left United with a lack of options in the centre-forward role. Sesko is the only out-and-out No.9 in the first-team squad, but he is still adapting to the Premier League. Chido Obi is an option but, at 17, his short-term career plan is best served in the academy set-up.

When Amorim wants to bring in a replacement for Sesko, the Reds currently have to adopt a striker-less system - which has worked against the likes of Liverpool - but isn't necessarily ideal for matches where a focal point up top is needed. That is why the availability of Antoine Semenyo should be appealing to the recruitment department.

Semenyo fits the same mould as Mbeumo and Cunha. He's a player who has proven he can do it in the Premier League and has a goal-scoring record to match that.

In a recent interview with Jason Wilcox, the United sporting director explained how the club made a decision to sign players in attack who they could 'plug in and play' in the Premier League. This does not mean signing players who solely fit the system, but also ones who know the division and can settle immediately.

Were they to sign Semenyo, then he would be another player who could do just that. Another similarity between Mbeumo and the Bournemouth attacker is the concerns surrounding whether he can feature as a No.10, or centre-forward, considering he plays as a right winger for his club.

However, speaking back in January, the Ghana international told the Reds exactly what they wanted to hear. "I feel like I'm comfortable playing in any role across the forward positions," he said.

"This comes with the ability to use both feet, I think. I'm comfortable playing whether on the left, right or in the middle.

"However, in my head the end goal is to be a No.9. Maybe in the years to come when I've built the experience I'll eventually transition into that, but I'm not too hung up on that."

If United are to spend a vast amount of money on a player, they need to know he can feature in a role suitable for Amorim's system. With those comments, Semenyo has offered reassurances that he can.

It will be a huge surprise if Semenyo is still at Bournemouth by the end of the January transfer window. If he stays injury free, and continues the sort of form he has been showing so far, there will be Premier League clubs queuing up for him.

Semenyo is understood to have a £65million release clause which will be active in the early stages of the January window. It's said it will expire shortly after the window opens to allow Bournemouth time to sign a replacement if necessary.

As such, we can expect any potential suitors to swarm on him as soon as the window begins and United need to be ready for that. If Semenyo now proves to be a serious target for the Reds in the transfer market, Zirkzee will undoubtedly need to leave and we understand a request from the Dutchman is likely to be lodged in January if his game time doesn't increase.

Should that happen, it's a no brainer for United. They must look to rake in as much as they can for Zirkzee and then use that money to attempt to sign Semenyo.

He has told the Reds exactly what they needed to hear so now is the time to start planning their approach.

- Jack Flintham

JUSTIN KLUIVERT IS IN THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS | MOST PENALTIES SCORED

Bournemouth striker 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭 has officially been given his Guinness World Record 𝐆𝐖𝐑 for 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 in a single Premier League game after scoring a hat-trick of penalties in the Cherries 𝟒-𝟐 win over Wolves in 𝐍𝐨𝐯 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒. 

MAN UNITED £100M MILOS KERKEZ TRANSFER DEMAND AFTER RÚBEN AMORIM SANCTIONS DEAL

Latest Manchester United transfer news as Milos Kerkez continues to attract attention with a fine display against Newcastle

Milos Kerkez remains a target for Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United transfer target Milos Kerkez continued his fine season with AFC Bournemouth on Saturday with a brilliant goal in their 4-1 win at Newcastle United.

Kerkez, 21, has been one of the best left-backs in the Premier League this term. United and Liverpool have both been tipped with pursuing a move for the Hungary international.

Ruben Amorim is reportedly pushing for a new left-back with Luke Shaw out injured and Tyrell Malacia understood to be allowed to leave the club on loan this window.

Kerkez, who cost Bournemouth around £15.5million, has come on leaps and bounds since his 2023 move from AZ Alkmaar. On Saturday, he showed United exactly what he can do with a brilliant performance against high-flying Newcastle.

A threat throughout the contest, Kerkez scored his second goal of the season in injury-time with a sweet left-footed effort. It wrapped up another excellent win for Andoni Iraola's side, who are now seventh in the Premier League and unbeaten in 11.

Bournemouth are understood to have no plans to sell Kerkez in January meaning a move in the summer is much more likely. But if United are going to bring the Hungarian to Old Trafford, he could cost a fair bit.

Kerkez's teammate and hat-trick hero at Newcastle, Justin Kluivert, was one of many Cherries' players who commented on Kerkez's social media post. The former Ajax and Roma man commented: "£100M POUNDSSSS son."

If United did pay close to Kluivert's valuation of Kerkez, they would pay a world-record fee for a defender. That tag is currently over Josko Gvardiol's head after his £77.6m move to Manchester City.

- Josh Holland

A FOOTBALL FAMILY ⚽ | KLUIVERT'S

 

🇳🇱 Patrick Kluivert (father) : Indonesia Head Coach.

🇳🇱 Justin Kluivert (son) : AFC Bournemouth Player.

🇳🇱 Shane Kluivert (son) : FC Barcelona U18 Player.

🇳🇱 Ruben Kluivert (son) : Casa Pia AC Player.

🇳🇱 Quincy Kluivert (son) : AVV Zeeburgia Player.

A football family. 😍

THE VAR REVIEW: BOURNEMOUTH HANDBALL 'GOAL',JOELINTON RED

It was impossible to be certain that the ball hit the arm of Dango Ouattara. BBC

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?

After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents, to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game.

In this week's VAR Review: Was it correct to rule out AFC Bournemouth's late winner against Newcastle United? And should Joelinton have seen red? Plus, two contentious penalty incidents in Manchester City vs. Ipswich Town.

What happened: Bournemouth scored what they thought was a 92nd-minute winner when Dango Ouattara appeared to head home a corner from Lewis Cook. The referee, David Coote, gave the goal, but it was checked for a possible handball by the VAR, Tim Robinson.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed.

VAR review: It had all started so well. The judgement from the Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel, whatever stock you place on that, gave one of its cleanest report cards from Matchday 1. Only one vote out of 195 across 39 incidents said there had been a mistake. That, for the record, was for West Ham United's penalty against Aston Villa.

But the PGMOL has very little credit in the bank after a troubled 2023-24 season with a catalogue of high-profile incidents. It wasn't going to take much for the perception of failure to seep back in. Indeed, West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady even managed to stick the boot in via her newspaper column on Saturday despite an unblemished first weekend.

What the Premier League really needed was a strong August devoid of controversy (you'll never lose the contentious incidents). Yet in a few short minutes in this game, the worst of VAR reared its head again.

There's nothing more infuriating for fans than the video referee disallowing a dramatic, late winner -- especially when it's shown to be unjust.

There wasn't the definitive proof to say the ball hit Ouattara's arm where it's a handball offence. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't -- but without conclusive evidence, the VAR shouldn't be disallowing the goal. If there's doubt, it should stay with the on-field call -- and Bournemouth should have had a late winner.

It's worth discussing the background, too. Contrary to popular belief, handball doesn't start at the bottom of the sleeve. That wouldn't make any sense when some players wear long-sleeved shirts.

Then, the IFAB confused everyone by saying the "T-shirt line" should be used. (Prepare yourselves for the definition.)

What this actually meant was the point at the bottom of the armpit around the circumference of the arm. Make sense? Not really. But in effect, the IFAB was saying the shoulder area now isn't handball, when previously it was.

It's an extremely difficult place to pinpoint. Where does the handball offence start? What if some of the ball is touching below that point? Or does it need to be all of the ball? And how is it consistently determined based on different arm positions?

Few law changes in recent years have helped referees, and this made handball more difficult to judge.

Until 2021, there wasn't a definition of handball in the laws, but the whole of the arm was in general used to determine an offence. So up to 2021, this goal would have been correctly disallowed.

The IFAB released a graphic in 2021 to show where the handball offence should begin. The IFAB

This isn't about "clear and obvious," or the new "referee's call." That only refers to truly subjective situations, like possible red cards and penalties. Handball before scoring is considered factual, ergo if the ball touches the arm, it can't be a goal regardless of the player's arm position.

But a decision that is considered factual in definition can still be subjective in application. It's possible that two officials could come to different judgements on this goal. In other leagues, the referee might be sent to the monitor to "sell" the decision: it's such a huge, match-defining moment that isn't totally clear, so the referee should make the final call even though by strict protocol it's not necessary. This has never been the case in the Premier League.

This was only the ninth game as VAR for Tim Robinson, who is a recent appointment to the Premier League list. In those previous eight matches he had one error to his name, the failure to award a penalty to Nottingham Forest against West Ham in February.

Ouattara has had goals ruled out through VAR in each of his first two matchdays.

Possible red card: Joelinton on Neto

What happened: A few minutes later, Newcastle were on the attack, and after Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto collected the ball to start a fast break, he was pulled down by Joelinton. Referee Coote cautioned the Newcastle player for unsporting behaviour. But was there a case for a red card?

VAR decision: No red card.

Joelinton pulls back goalkeeper Neto around his neck. Eddie Keogh/Getty Images

VAR review: If there's one area that the Premier League has struggled to pin down with VAR, it's serious foul play and violent conduct. Last season, of the 24 missed subjective interventions, eight related to direct red cards.

For Coote, this may purely have looked like Joelinton dragged the 'keeper back to prevent a fast break, but the height of the challenge, with the arm to Neto's neck area as he was running, crossed the line into a dangerous action, and a red card feels a justified outcome. The VAR had decided that the referee's call to show the yellow wasn't clearly wrong, yet at the same time, Robinson had felt there had been enough evidence to rule out Bournemouth's goal.

Last weekend, Arsenal wanted a red card after Yerson Mosquera appeared to grab Kai Havertz by the throat, but with that call (no VAR intervention was unanimously supported by the KMI panel) there was a valid explanation that it was accidental as the Wolverhampton Wanderers player looked to brace his fall.

That's not the case here, as Joelinton's act was deliberate to stop Neto and did so in a way that could have caused injury to his opponent. No other sport would allow a player to stay on the field after such a challenge, and football should catch up.

Fabian Schär was sent off against Southampton last week for the smallest of headbutts, yet football's laws specifically cover a player who attempts to do this (hence Newcastle losing their appeal against the player's ban). Joelinton's actions are left far more open to interpretation in the laws when perhaps they shouldn't be.

Man City 4-1 Ipswich

Possible penalty: Davis challenge on Savinho

What happened: Manchester City were on the attack in the ninth minute when Savinho went down in the box after a challenge from Leif Davis. Referee Sam Allison ignored claims for a penalty and it was checked by the VAR, David Coote (watch here).

VAR decision: Penalty, scored by Erling Haaland.

Savinho is tripped inside the area by Leif Davis. NBC

VAR review: Taken in isolation, this decision wouldn't have raised too much discussion. Davis' challenge on Savinho has clear merits for a penalty, with the Ipswich player not getting the ball and making some contact with the opponent. Was it enough for a VAR penalty? It's not the most clear-cut we'll see, but it was probably fair enough.

But in conjunction with the spot kick Ipswich didn't get later in the half, it plays into the narrative (just like Bournemouth vs. Newcastle) that the bigger clubs get the decisions over the perceived smaller teams.

Possible penalty: Savinho challenge on Davis

What happened: Roles were reversed in the 42nd minute as Davis broke into the area and was bundled over by Savinho. Referee Allison waved away the appeals, and again it was looked at by Coote in the VAR hub.

VAR decision: No penalty.

Leif Davis appeared to be bundled over by Savinho, but the VAR didn't get involved. Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images

VAR review: This time the VAR decided that the referee's call of no penalty was correct. Savinho's challenge was deemed to be clumsy rather than crossing the threshold for a foul.

Davis did seem to be going down anticipating contact, and his right foot did appear to go out to initiate it. But there's an argument that's trumped by the upper body, hip-on-hip contact that caused the Ipswich player to go down.

Each of these incidents have their merits for a spot kick, yet both went in favour of the bigger club.

Fulham 2-1 Leicester

Possible offside overturn: Vardy on Faes goal

What happened: Wout Faes thought he had equalised for Leicester City in the 38th minute when he headed past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, but the flag went up for offside against Jamie Vardy, who was deemed to be in the goalkeeper's line of vision. It was checked by the VAR, Jarred Gillett.

VAR decision: Goal.

VAR review: Vardy was in contact with Leno as the corner was played in, but the offside judgement only starts when Faes heads the ball. That sets the position, and from that point the actions of Vardy come into play.

The angle behind the goal showed that at the point Faes made contact Leno had a clear view of the ball, and Vardy made no attempt to play it nor did he move across the keeper's path. If Vardy had been directly in front of the goalkeeper, the goal would have remained disallowed.

Referee Darren Bond had to go to the pitchside monitor to make the decision himself as this was a subjective decision that required interpretation, unlike a standard, factual offside.

Jamie Vardy wasn't in Bernd Leno's line of vision when Wout Faes headed the ball. BBC

Brighton 2-1 Man United

Possible offside: Garnacho goal

What happened: Manchester United took the lead at Brighton & Hove Albion in the 70th minute when Alejandro Garnacho side-footed into an empty net, with goalkeeper Jason Steele stranded. But as the Argentina international celebrated, the VAR, Chris Kavanagh, was checking for a possible offside.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed.

VAR review: Everyone thought this was a Garnacho goal, but replays soon showed that the ball had hit Joshua Zirkzee.

The question was, did that happen before it crossed the line? It did: The Netherlands international's knee was on the line when he touched the ball.

It seems a harsh call, because there's no defender anywhere near, and Zirkzee's position didn't make any material impact on the outcome; the ball was going to go into the net.

But as the ball touched Zirkzee before it went in, he is the goal scorer, and it's impossible to score a goal from an offside position.

A frustrating situation for Man United, but there was only one possible outcome from this factual offside decision.

The ball touched Joshua Zirkzee before the ball crossed the line, meaning it was his goal. BBC

Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

Possible red card: Mosquera challenge on Caicedo

What happened: Yerson Mosquera was booked in the 71st minute after a strong challenge on Moisés Caicedo. Was there a case for a red card?

VAR decision: No red card.

Yerson Mosquera caught Moisés Caicedo on top of the Chelsea player's boot. Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

VAR review: Mosquera ran the risk with this challenge, as he was over the ball at one point. However, contact with the Chelsea player was on top of the foot, so a booking was the correct decision. If the Wolves player had made contact with the shin, a VAR intervention from John Brooks was very likely.

Some factual parts of this article include information provided by the Premier League and PGMOL.

- Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC

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