Neville CONVINCED Godfrey stamped on Tomiyasu's face on purpose

‘He realises what he’s done and he goes “oh look it’s an accident”‘: Gary Neville convinced Ben Godfrey MEANT to stamp on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s face… but admits he ‘can see why it’s not a red card’ with VAR unable to prove intent

  • Arsenal faced-off with Everton in a tight and tense clash at Goodison Park  
  • Ben Godfrey escaped red when he studded Takehiro Tomiyasu in the face
  • The defender claimed it was an accident, but Gary Neville saw through it 
  • Despite seeing his own dirty old tricks being used, he insisted it wasn’t a red 

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher know all about ‘leaving one on’ rival attackers, and they exposed Ben Godfrey after he went in studs-up on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s face.

A seething, tense Goodison Park crowd set the tone for a feisty clash with Arsenal on Monday, and Godfrey’s challenge 28 minutes into the first-half was a symptom.  

As Arsenal right-back Tomiyasu tripped on Allan’s lunging tackle at the touchline, the ball deflected away and Godfrey planted his studs on the stricken Japanese star’s chin. He eyes were elsewhere at the time, but the movement looked avoidable. 

Ben  

Everton’s Ben Godfrey planted his studs into Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu but got away with it

The incident went to VAR, who let the Toffees man off scot-free. 

‘You’re talking to two of the masters of following through into the face and making it look like it’s accidental, Neville said on Sky Sports, stood next to the Liverpool legend. 

‘We think he definitely means that. He realises what he’s done and he goes “oh look it’s an accident.”

‘As a professional, definitely 100 per cent he means that however I can see why VAR have said it’s accidental and we couldn’t prove it. But as a professional you know. 

Gary Nevile is certain that the Toffees centre-back knew what he was doing with the challenge

‘He’s meant it, but I can see why it’s not a red.’

Carragher added: ‘He’s a very lucky boy.’  

The VAR calls certainly didn’t all go in Everton’s favour, with Richarlison celebrating twice before the referee rained on his parade. 

Martin Odegaard fired Arsenal ahead moments before the break, before Everton’s Brazilian striker finally got on the scoresheet at the third attempt on 79 minutes.  




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