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The law says Arsenal deserved a penalty, but should it really work that way?

Arsenal head into the break five points clear, but another refereeing debate and a chaotic weekend elsewhere ensured the talking points did not stop there.

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 7:01 PM
The law says Arsenal deserved a penalty, but should it really work that way?
Key Things to Know
  • Writer Paul Williams argues the offside rule should not award penalties to players in offside positions.
  • Arsenal defeated Hull City 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Martin Odegaard.
  • Under Law 11, Arsenal should have received a penalty for a foul on Kai Havertz before an offside offence.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Paul Williams argues that while Law 11 technically entitled Arsenal to a penalty against Hull City, the rule itself is fundamentally flawed. Arsenal secured a 1-0 win courtesy of a Martin Odegaard goal, but a major talking point emerged after Kai Havertz was fouled while in an offside position. Pundit Dermot Gallagher and Williams agreed that the laws of the game dictate a foul preceding an active offside action must be penalized.

Despite the rule, Williams contends that offside players should not be awarded penalties for fouls, asserting that a team should not gain a free scoring opportunity in such circumstances. Williams adds that Havertz went down easily and notes that Arsenal's eventual victory made the controversial non-call far easier to accept.

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