After Arsenal's recent match, assistant coach Aaron D'Antino addressed the controversial handball decision involving Leah Williamson that led to a penalty for the opposing team. He explained that while the intention was for Williamson to take a goal-kick, the incident serves as a learning opportunity. "If we're looking at what we can control, it's just passing the ball to Leah from what I remember seeing. The ball was still rolling and she [Rodriguez] was moving it to Leah for her to take the goal-kicks as we normally do," D'Antino stated.
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Former Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie criticized the referee, Iuliana Demetrescu, suggesting that the call was incorrect despite adherence to the rules. "For me, I just don't even know how that happens. Leah knows it's a goal-kick, she's catching the ball. That's shocking from the referee," Beattie told Paramount+. She expressed her frustration, saying, "I would have been fuming and I would have been embarrassed if they gave that. This is not what they're trying to do. It's just beyond frustrating that that's how they've tied the game."
Beattie emphasized that Williamson's actions were not instigated by panic but by the procedure of taking the goal-kick. "Leah Williamson doesn't panic in those moments, she knows what she's doing. The goalkeeper knows what she's doing as well. The referee has miscalled it."