Former referee Dermot Gallagher on why Newcastle’s controversial winner against Arsenal should NOT have stood
DERMOT GALLAGHER has revealed why Newcastle’s controversial goal against Arsenal should have been disallowed.
The Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Toon thanks to Anthony Gordon’s strike, which was awarded after a lengthy VAR review.
Officials in Stockley Park checked to see whether the ball went out of play in the build-up, then if Joelinton had fouled Gabriel and finally if the goalscorer was offside.
But they decided there was nothing wrong and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta slammed the decision as a “disgrace”.
Former Premier League referee Gallagher and Gunners legend Ian Wright clashed when debating the controversy.
They first discussed if the ball went out of play with the retired ref saying that they were correct to judge the ball as in-play.
He explained: “The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line.
“You can look at it from that angle and it’s impossible to tell.
“They can’t be sure that half that ball is overhanging that line, so therefore, there is no evidence to suggest the ball is out of play.”
Wright argued: “The angles we are seeing, the ball looks out of play.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
“That’s surely what we should be judging it on. It’s not like we can’t say conclusively.
“What we can see, from the naked eye, we haven’t got any other way to prove that circumference is breaking the line, then surely we should give that ball as out of play.”
The pair then discussed Joelinton’s possible foul on Gabriel.
Gallagher believes the wrong decision was made and that the goal should’ve been chalked off because of the push.
He said: “The on-field decision was no foul. I think if you look at the three components of this, two are inconclusive and can’t be checked.
“I think this is the easiest one of the lot. I think it’s a foul.”
Wright fumed: “We have two referees in there and they don’t see that as a foul. How can they not see that as a foul?”
“People saying it’s sour grapes from me, to a certain extent it is.
“There are two hands on his back there. You look at Joelinton, he is forcing him in the back. Gabriel probably gets a head on that ball if he isn’t impeded.”
Wright also raged over the decision not to send off Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes following his forearm smash into Jorginho.
ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Stay up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours from the Emirates