Ian Wright and Dermot Gallagher argued about the call to allow Newcastle United’s goal against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at St James’ Park on Sunday.
There were cries from Arsenal’s side that the ball went out of play following Joe Willock’s cross, including Ian Wright who stated ‘the angles were are seeing, the ball looks out of play’.
But former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher disagreed with the Arsenal legend by stating it’s ‘impossible to tell’ and ‘they can’t be sure that half of that ball is overhanging the line’.
That wasn’t the only talking point, with Ian Wright certain that Newcastle United’s Joelinton fouled Gabriel Magalhaes because he was stopping him from heading the ball by having ‘two hands on his back’.
That was something Dermot Gallagher actually agreed with and felt that ‘it was a foul’ on the Arsenal defender, as he told Premier League Productions (04/11/23 at 7:40 pm).
There was a lengthy VAR check on that call, as you can understand, and in the end, to the delight of the Newcastle United fans, the goal stood and the three points followed.
Newcastle United-Arsenal VAR
“The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line,” said Gallagher. “You can look at it from that angle and it’s impossible to tell.
“The reason why I say that. We see people take corners now and half the people think the ball is out of circumference, but because it overhangs, then you are allowed. I think that maybe the problem here. 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 added: “The angles we are seeing, the ball looks out of play. 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, because 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.”
Gallagher responded: “Wrighty, I get that and I fully understand what you are saying. But the problem is, you see many, many corners taken. When you see it down the line, you think that the ball is out of the quadrant. But when you go to it, part of the ball hangs over the line.”
On Joelinton’s foul, Wright stated: “What I am saying with this one, 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 there. Gabriel probably gets a head on that ball if he isn’t impeded.”
Gallagher added: “The on-field decision was no foul. I think if you look at the three components of this of what we are discussing. 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 responded: “We have two referees in there and they don’t see that as a foul. How can they not see that as a foul?”
Mikel Arteta furious
The Arsenal boss isn’t shy to say or express what he feels, whether on the touchline or during his post-match interviews.
Well, he left rip after yesterday’s game by telling Sky Sports ‘I feel sick’ at the goal, after a lengthy VAR check, being awarded.
You don’t suppose Arteta will be calling for a replay, do you? Perhaps they can fit it in on the same day as Tottenham v Liverpool.
If Arsenal fans think they have it bad, they should take a look at Wolves who, for probably the 100th time this season, were done over by another dodgy VAR call following their 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United.
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