Ange Postecoglou praised Tottenham’s bravery at Arsenal but expressed amusement at the handball rule and joked ‘defenders without arms’ may be needed in future after Cristian Romero conceded a ridiculous penalty severe during the 2-2 draw.
Spurs secured a share of victory in the north London derby after captain Son Heung-min scored either side of half-time.
But it could have been an even better result for the Australian, still unbeaten in the Premier League, if Romero had not been penalized for a handball in the penalty area in the 54th minute after denying that Ben White was blocked, allowing Bukayo Saka to score the resulting penalty.
Spurs equalized immediately afterwards when Son scored his 150th goal for Spurs, but Postecoglou was still confused by the awarding of the penalty, comparing it to the equally unfair handball against Wolves’ Joao Gomes at Luton on Saturday. “I have no idea what the rule of handball is,” he shrugged. ” Truly not.
I saw this yesterday at Wolves and it seems like when it hits your hand it’s a penalty and other times when it hits your hand it’s not a penalty.”I have no idea. It’s the one rule of the game that I just don’t understand.
Until we start developing armless defenders, I don’t know how to block things and be in a natural position. “It is what it is. You kind of hope that these things balance out over the course of a year, but I don’t understand the rule.
Any clarity would be good because I have no idea.”But Postecoglou was delighted with his team’s performance. “You can get a result here, a draw, and you can go home thinking, ‘You know what, we got away with it’ – but I don’t have that feeling now.
I think we were able to compete against a top team and at times we clearly demonstrated our dominance in the match. Sometimes it does, but that’s exactly what happens when you’re dealing at the top.
Even if we lost today, and I don’t like losing, but for me to continue to push these guys, they have to feel like what we’re talking about and working on is going to show and when it will show. produced against a top team. The important thing is that we approach this issue with courage. I’m happy.”
