The noise after the goal was deafening — until it wasn't.
A sharp blast of the referee's whistle cut through the celebration like a blade.
"Oh, wait, what do we have here?" Darren Fletcher's voice came through.
One by one, the Arsenal players' expressions shifted from triumph to confusion, heads turning toward the referee and then the touchline, and there it was.
The assistant referee's flag — held high, unmoving.
And just like that, the explosion of joy in the stands faltered into a rumble of groans, disbelief rippling through the crowd.
"Arsenal have scored," Fletcher's voice held a mixture of excitement and hesitation, "but the officials think otherwise. The flag is up… and now the referee might have to check VAR here."
The din inside the Emirates was a volatile mix — half the stadium still riding the wave of Trossard's finish, the other half already bristling at the interruption.
