Was It a Goal or a Foul? The Gabriel-Martinez Collision in Arsenal vs Aston Villa
30 December 2025
The Controversial Moment
Arsenal and Aston Villa staged a heated moment in Tuesday's Premier League clash, featuring Gabriel Martinelli and Emiliano Martinez. In the 48th minute, Gabriel rose to meet a Saka corner, collided with Martinez, and the ball found the net for Arsenal's opener.
Villa protested, but the video assistant referee approved the goal and no review was asked.
What the Rules Say
A look at the Premier League's official update, published September 9, 2024, notes that physical challenges with goalkeepers are part of the game and that attackers can contest space by staying close to the keeper; if they move in sync, play should continue.
The update adds that a foul is awarded only if the attacker focuses on the keeper and ignores the ball, and that contact must clearly hinder the keeper's ability to save.
Punchline 1: Timing is everything in football—until VAR takes a coffee break and rewrites the punchline.
Punchline 2: If football logic existed, we'd finally know which way the ball is supposed to bounce—until VAR contradicts it again.
