Carrick admits Smith Rowe goal for Arsenal was 'very strange'
Michael Carrick admits Arsenal’s ‘very strange’ goal by Emile Smith Rowe while David de Gea was down injured could have left him talking ‘all night’ had Manchester United lost – but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had no doubts over its legality
- Emile Smith Rowe opened the scoring for Arsenal in their 3-2 defeat at Man Utd
- But Smith Rowe’s goal came after David de Gea had gone down injured
- Confusion reigned over legality of the goal before it was eventually awarded
- Outgoing United caretaker boss Michael Carrick ‘relieved’ it didn’t cost his side
Manchester United bounced back from conceding a freak goal to beat Arsenal at Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo broke the 800-goal barrier in a remarkable career.
A dramatic night ended with United caretaker manager Michael Carrick announcing that he is leaving the club with immediate effect as he handed over the reins to interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Ronaldo’s double took his tally to 801 goals and made sure Carrick signed off in style after Arsenal had taken a bizarre lead when Emile Smith-Rowe scored in an unguarded net with goalkeeper David de Gea down injured.
Michael Carrick gives the thumbs up after his Manchester United side’s 3-2 win over Arsenal
Carrick embraces David de Gea after the final whistle as United recovered from a bizarre start
‘At least I don’t have to talk too much about the Arsenal goal because we could have been here all night,’ smiled Carrick. ‘If it had been the winning goal it would have been a different conversation. Very strange.’
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes thought that referee Martin Atkinson should have stopped the game after teammate Fred trod on De Gea’s ankle.
‘Normally when the keeper goes down, we should stop the game but mistakes happen. I don’t know if the referee made a mistake but we have to carry on,’ said Fernandes.
Not surprisingly, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta thought the goal should have stood. ‘We didn’t know what to expect but the referee and VAR checked and it’s a goal,’ he said.
De Gea had gone down injured in the early stages following an Arsenal corner kick
But nobody had spotted the incident as Emile Smith Rowe shot at an unguarded goal to score
Carrick paid tribute to Ronaldo having sprung a surprise by dropping the Portugal star at Chelsea last weekend.
‘Cristiano been unbelievable this week,’ he added. ‘He didn’t start against Chelsea but it wasn’t a big deal for us. The way he was on board with and the way he was around the group, he was incredible. It’s no surprise he goes and scores again tonight – the perfect ending really.’
Rangnick will take over today (fri) after securing his work permit and he watched from the stands last night.
Carrick hands over after winning two and drawing one of his three games and in charge, but insisted the decision was entirely his.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believed it was the right that the goal was allowed to stand
‘It was 100 per cent my decision,’ he said. ‘I respected the club and the new manager coming in, and I wanted to make decision before I spoke to him. I didn’t want any crossover whatsoever.
‘It was the right thing to do for the club as much as for Ralf. Once I made the decision that was final.
‘I meant to take time off after finished playing and promised the family that we’d have some time together and it’s never happened. I’ve thrown myself into working here for so long it just feels like the right time to step away.
‘The players were a bit shocked and it was a bit emotional, but I kind of expected that. I held it together just about.’
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