Patrick Dorgu’s goal for Manchester United against Arsenal stood despite handball concerns after VAR ruled the incident was inconclusive, with Mike Dean confirming the ball appeared to hit the player’s hip
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter and Neil Docking
18:10, 25 Jan 2026
Patrick Dorgu seemingly handled the ball before his goal(Image: )
Mike Dean was swift to clarify why Patrick Dorgu’s sensational strike for Manchester United against Arsenal was allowed to stand, despite him appearing to handle the ball beforehand.
With the match locked at 1-1 following an entertaining opening 45 minutes, the Red Devils full-back exchanged a series of neat passes with Bruno Fernandes on the fringe of Arsenal’s penalty area before unleashing a fierce volley. The ball, travelling upwards, smashed against David Raya’s crossbar before nestling in the back of the net, prompting Dorgu to race away in celebration.
Nevertheless, there was a brief VAR examination afterwards, as the 21-year-old appeared to have touched the ball with his hand prior to his effort. Swiftly confirming the outcome of the review, Dean revealed that the goal would be upheld as the handball was deemed inconclusive following VAR’s analysis of the replays.
Patrick Dorgu celebrates his sensational goal versus Arsenal for Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Premier League official said: “We’ve just heard from the VAR, Paul Tierney, and it’s a fair comment, it’s inconclusive, you can’t tell. That’s what VAR just said, it looks like it’s hit his hip. On field decision is correct, goal is given.”
In a match packed with incident from start to finish, it was Arsenal who opened the scoring. The Gunners applied early pressure as they sought to make their mark on home turf, with Lisandro Martinez making a mess of a clearance in his six-yard box after 29 minutes, which saw the ball bundle into the back of his own net, reports the Mirror.
However, Arsenal’s lead was short-lived. Just eight minutes later, Declan Rice’s pass back to David Raya was intercepted by Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian forward calmly rounded the keeper and fired the ball into an open net.
Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his criticism of Mikel Arteta’s tactics after Arsenal took the lead. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Well you have to say Arsenal’s management and control of the game since going one up has been terrible. They’ve really gifted United two or three moments and that one is the biggest gift.”
Meanwhile, at half-time, Roy Keane suggested taking the lead had actually unsettled Arsenal. The former United skipper observed: “It looked like the goal kind of set Arsenal back a little bit.
“They definitely look tentative, they look nervous. It’s a bit like the Liverpool game here a few weeks ago. The fans seem nervous, as if they’re afraid to embrace the challenge. They’re more concentrating on not losing the game.”
Commenting on Mbeumo’s goal, he added: “I don’t know where Declan is going there, the ball goes back to [Martin] Zubimendi a bit too quickly really. He’s got to do better.
“A bit of calmness, a bit of composure. And United obviously have had a lot of encouragement. You can see it here again, Arsenal, just even trying to keep it at the back.
“They looked a bit nervous at the back. Lovely, lovely finish and United deserved that. There’s definitely tension in the air and they’re not dealing with it.”
