The decisive second within the match got here seconds earlier than half-time when Mehdi Taremi’s flick on from a nook struck Merino on the hand.
It was a call that maybe wouldn’t have been awarded within the Premier League, with referees having moved away from awarding “tender penalties” from this season onwards.
“Our method relating to handball, there’s solely a slight change and tweak into the place we’re going with that,” former referee Kevin Buddy revealed forward of the season., exterior
“We noticed some tender penalties final season for handball. So we’re mainly in search of examples the place it clearly hits the arm unjustifiably, with palms above the top, or away from the physique to intentionally block the ball coming into the field or going into aim.”
That differs from guidelines in Uefa competitions, and that variation left pundits annoyed on Wednesday.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown stated on TNT Sports activities: “Is the arm in an unnatural place? It isn’t. We now have that debate once more and it’s ruining the sport,
“It’s wonderful margins, I don’t consider it’s a penalty. The unnatural rule, who’s making these guidelines? Have they performed the sport?”
Ex-Gunners defender Matt Upson added on BBC Radio 5 stay: “It does my head in the way in which they apply that legislation in Europe.
“We’re miles forward of that within the Premier League, the referees have the understanding of proximity, the pace of the ball and all these issues have been tick, tick.
“It’s only a little bit of widespread sense.”
As for the incident involving Merino and Sommer on the different finish of the pitch, former Arsenal ahead Theo Walcott stated on Match of the Day: “Merino will get in place and [Yann] Sommer comes and bodily punches him.
“He is very unlucky to not get the penalty and Arsenal have been a bit unfortunate.”
