Wayne Rooney has heavily criticized Gabriel Magalhaes for escaping a red card after a dangerous challenge on Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during Arsenal's 2-1 victory in a heated London derby. The incident occurred just five minutes into the match when the Brazilian defender appeared to kick Martinez in the head during a scramble inside the penalty box, yet referee Chris Kavanagh's view was obscured and VAR opted not to intervene.
Controversial Incident Sparks Debate
Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day, the Manchester United legend expressed disbelief that Gabriel remained on the pitch. Rooney analyzed the slow-motion replays and pointed out the defender's recklessness: "Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top. He's extremely lucky to stay on the pitch." The challenge raised serious questions about player safety and VAR protocol in the Premier League.
Fellow pundit Ashley Young agreed with Rooney's assessment, questioning why the incident wasn't escalated for a pitchside review. Young noted that Gabriel was nowhere near the ball when he made contact with the goalkeeper, suggesting the challenge deserved closer scrutiny from the video assistant referee team.
Arsenal's Comeback Victory
Despite the controversial moment, Arsenal showed character to overturn an early deficit. Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea a dream start by firing the visitors ahead inside two minutes. However, Kai Havertz equalized midway through the first half before captain Martin Odegaard secured all three points with a decisive second-half strike. The Gunners maintained their perfect Premier League record while Chelsea, who started with their own unbeaten run, suffered their first setback of the campaign.
With the dramatic victory secured, Arsenal now shift focus to European football. The north London club faces Serie A heavyweights Napoli in their Champions League opener this week, while Chelsea prepare for a League Cup fixture against Leeds United on Wednesday.
