Foul!

[Sqad]

Arsenal v Man City.

I am not a supporter of either Club.....BUT....the first goal.
TV clearly showed Aguera nudging ( pushing) the central Man City defender before racing away to score.
Is nudging (pushing) legal or not?

[Garaman]

Aguero had as much right to run in the direction he was running as Mustafi did, and arguably more as he was looking where he was going.

[Arrods]

Aguero knew exactly what he was doing. You could see he had no intention of challenging for the ball - his eyes were firmly on the defender. Perhaps the defender was being too honest in not falling over on contact? Just too many cheats in football.

[zebo]

I've often wondered how Nat Lofthouse's goal against Manchester United in the 1958 Cup Final would be viewed now. The Man U goalkeeper, Harry Gregg, caught to ball in mid-air, Nat shouldered the ball and Gregg finished up on the ground in the goal, still holding the ball, and the goal stood! Allegedly, when Nat was retired and running a pub, Gregg came in and he was given his drink free, 'We don't charge goalkeepers here'.
I'm sure some clever person can find the video.

Can't believe it's 60 years ago this year, I had a ticket then my Mum wouldn't let me go because I said that I wanted Man U to win, it was only three months after the Munich crash and I felt sorry for them.

[Sqad]

I am sorry......I still do not understand how a foul was not given if seen on TV as i saw it.

I must admit Garaman's link doesn't make the push that obvious, but other shots do , in my opinion.

[ToraToraTora]

zebo, shoulder charging the keeper was allowed back then. I think the law was changed in the early 70s. It changed the game because prior to that keepers would usually punch the ball away rather that risk getting off balance trying to catch the ball and be easy prey for a charging forward, as in your example.

[Garaman]

Sqad (apologies for previous misspelling) Mustafi ran backwards into Aguero and you are allowed to protect yourself.

[Sqad]

Garaman...I agree.
You think that Aguero was protecting himself? You may be right.;-)

[Garaman]

No, not really, but he knew Mustafi had misjudged the ball and doesn't have to move out of the way and let him run backwards past him to get it. Perhaps you think he should have stood still and let Mustafi run into him without putting his hands up.

[Sqad]

LOL.....maybe....but is one allowed to "push someone in the back" to avoid a collision?

I suppose that it all boils down to "intent" and clearly the officials felt that Aguero was justifiably defending himself.............;-)

[Garaman]

If Mustafi had judged the ball better and was holding his ground, such a shove would be a clear foul, but Mustafi running backwards into Aguero alters it somewhat.

Pathetic defending anyway.

[Guilbert53]

I think we all know Adams or Keown would not have got pushed off the ball as easily as Mustaphi was.

And as for the poster above bleating on about lack of skillful players has he watched De Bruyne lately? Or Hazard or Salah or Kane or Erikson? And Aguero is a very skillful player. Loads of them about.