Offside question, Karl et al

[Karl]

I saw a replay of the own goal scored by Tottenham; when the ball was struck a couple players on Arsenal were offside and running at the goal...my question is, does or doesn't that give Arsenal an advantage? Isn't the defender (who doesn't know if they are offside or not) now forced to defend against those players and in so doing heads into his own goal?

Just a technical question. I can see where the player would feel hard done by.



Coincidentally, that's one of the first questions they posed on my half time analysis...though they didn't belabour the point much.

Sure as hell gave my GUNNERS an advantage!