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Keith Hackett has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur were hard done by after having a goal ruled out in the North London Derby. Randal Kolo Muani believed he had brought Spurs level for a second time on Sunday evening, only for his strike to be disallowed due to a perceived foul on Gabriel Magalhaes during the build-up.

The Arsenal defender went to ground claiming he had been pushed while challenging in the air, prompting referee Peter Bankes to award a free-kick. VAR official Darren England, alongside assistant Timothy Wood at Stockley Park, upheld the original decision, meaning Kolo Muani’s effort did not stand.

Replays showed the Tottenham forward making minimal contact with Gabriel as he moved onto a deflected cross from Conor Gallagher. With both feet still on the ground, the Brazilian defender was lightly touched in the back by Kolo Muani before dramatically throwing his arms up as he jumped.

The call sparked debate, particularly given that Hugo Ekitike escaped punishment for a similar clash with Cristian Romero earlier in the campaign. Speaking to Football Insider, former FIFA referee and ex-PGMOL chief Hackett argued that Bankes may have been influenced by Gabriel’s reaction.

Hackett explained that the key question for the referee was whether the Arsenal defender was backing into his opponent. He criticised the inconsistency of officiating, noting that physical grappling often goes unpunished while softer incidents like this result in fouls.

He added that a genuine push typically involves a bent arm extending outward, whereas in this case the arm appeared straight, suggesting the attacker was merely holding his ground rather than initiating force. Hackett concluded that such decisions understandably confuse supporters, claiming Gabriel appeared to back in deliberately to win the foul.

Sky Sports pundits Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd also assessed the incident. Gallagher, who refereed close to 400 Premier League matches, stated that once the referee awarded the foul on the field, VAR was unlikely to overturn it because there was some level of contact.

Bothroyd, a former striker who retired in 2022 after nearly 600 career appearances, described the decision as extremely soft. He argued that Gabriel was already positioned beneath the ball and exaggerated his reaction, effectively convincing the referee.

The controversy may have significant consequences as the season progresses. Arsenal remain firmly in the title race, while Tottenham continue to battle near the bottom of the table, struggling to pull clear of relegation danger.