Shay Given delivers verdict on whether Randal Kolo Muani disallowed goal should have stood for Tottenham vs Arsenal

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Randal Kolo Muani scored for Tottenham against Arsenal and also saw a strike disallowed for a supposed push on defender Gabriel.

Tottenham were thoroughly miserable in the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, but perhaps their chances of claiming anything from the game weren’t helped by referee Peter Bankes.

He deemed that Kolo Muani shoved Gabriel in the back with his goal, which would have made it 2-2, disallowed much to the dismay of the Spurs fan base.

Naturally, the decision has proved a hot topic of discussion for pundits and supporters in the aftermath of the contest, with Shay Given delivering a scathing verdict on Gabriel.

• READ MORE: Tottenham relegation chances now rated

Shay Given makes Tottenham claim

Kolo Muani was fuming with the decision to disallow the goal that would have restored parity for Tottenham, and the game really did hinge on that decision.

Given felt that theatrics from Gabriel didn’t help the cause at all but believes similar decisions have been overlooked on Spurs this season.

He said on Match of the Day 2: “I just think it’s soft. You see Gabriel and you see Kolo Muani, there’s a coming together, but this is the Premier League, it’s a coming together, and it’s a physical sport.

“As a striker, you just think I’m going to bump him, but the way Gabriel has gone down, I don’t want to be too strong here, but the BAFTAs are only up the road, and it’s crazy, I think Peter Bankes could let that go or at least speak to VAR.”

Tottenham need to find wins from somewhere quickly

Kolo Muani scoring in the Premier League was a bit of a collector’s item, and the hope will be that he can now start bagging on a more frequent basis for the team.

He was desperately unlucky not to score two goals in this game, and the fact that former professionals are saying the goal should have stood is very telling.

Kolo Muani’s act was intensified by Gabriel acting like GBH had been committed on him, and Arsenal fans won’t be pleading a vendetta against the Gunners this week.

To not have a win so far in 2026 is pretty abysmal, and now, the challenge for Tottenham is to start winning games and fast to pull clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone.