Gary Neville was amazed by the measure where the defensive wall of Arsenal was before Bruno Fernandes pulled in Manchester United in advance in the Sunday match at Old Trafford.
Captain Uni opened the scoring just before half-time with a fairly flat effort of more than 25 yards.
Before the free kick was taken, Neville said that while commenting for Sky Sports’ The Wall looks right back. It looks like it gives him a chance. He looks a mile back.
After seeing the ball hit the net, Neville added: “Can we put a measure on this?” Because this wall looked absolutely miles. Usually you see the wall, especially a large wall like that, it always looks really difficult to mount it.
“There just seemed to be so much space, so much space that he didn’t even have to go as high in the net. And he (Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya) could not cross. But you imagined it and he delivered.
Opposition players are supposed to stand 10 meters from the ball when they defend a free kick.
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes (left) marked against Arsenal with a soft free kick
Fernandes was able to be pulled on Gabriel and Mikel Merino in the wall of five arsenal men
Gary Neville (right) and Jamie Redknapp (left) were part of the Sky Sports team
Where the defenders are held is not the players themselves. The approximate distance is measured by the referee, generally by him by counting his progress.
Sunday, the Arsenal Wall, as marked by referee Anthony Taylor, was later proved 11.2 meters from the ball, according to Sky Sports.
Sky Sports compatriot, Jamie Redknapp, was very impressed by Fernandes’ strike, but not by the positioning of the Arsenal Raya goalkeeper.
“It’s a bit like the Drogba and Ronaldo technique,” said Redknapp at halftime. “You can take a look at the goalkeeper’s positioning.
“I think what you are trying to do is create a topspin. This obtains additional power. And it changes so fast.
“And he’s still … the goalkeeper may be a yard. Once this ball has passed in front of him, look, it is still miles away.
Raya initially positioned himself well to the right of the center in its goal, the wall responsible for protecting the left side.
Just before Fernandes pulled, Raya took a big step on his left, but he still couldn’t get closer to the ball as he was flying in front of him.
The Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya, initially positioned himself well to the right of the center in his goal
Just before Fernandes shoot, Raya took a step on his left, putting him in a more central position
But the Guardian of the Gunners was still not able to get closer to the ball when he had exceeded it in the net
It was later revealed that referee Anthony Taylor had pushed the arsenal wall to 11.2 yards
Spanish goalkeeper Raya was the 81st appearance of his arsenal career on Sunday