Arsenal new verdict on VAR row as disallowed goal and Rice incidents reviewed | Football | Sport
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the officials’ decision to rule out West Ham’s late equaliser against Arsenal. Callum Wilson netted deep into stoppage time, but VAR stepped in with referee Chris Kavanagh reversing the original call.
Gallagher believes the right decision was reached, despite some suggestions that Declan Rice had also fouled Konstantinos Mavropanos. Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, he said: “Between the officials, they came to the right decision. When you watch it, there is so much going on and to look at and what happens is you go have to go in chronological order.
“If you look at it, Pablo puts his arm across Raya, he holds him, there is no doubt about that. Behind that, Declan Rice is engaged with Mavropanos, is that a penalty?”
“Well if you look at it in that order, definitely Pablo goes first, his arm is across Raya and at that point, Rice is reaching, he does get hold of him, there is no doubt about that.
“And if there is not a foul on the goalkeeper, that is definitely a penalty as Mavropanos is running towards the ball. But the first foul is definitely by Pablo.”
Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd said: “I completely agree and it is because of the magnitude of the game that it has taken so long. but they came to the right decision because Pablo’s arm is across Raya’s neck, Todibo is pulling on Raya’s shirt, so that is why it has to be given as a foul.”
Gallagher subsequently added: “It’s all about sequence. If the West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen heads the ball, Pablo hasn’t engaged with Raya yet. he would have to head the ball before the shirt is grabbed. He doesn’t.
“What is the impact and what is the consequence. The impact is Pablo stopped Raya. He can’t go forward and attack the ball.
“Once he can’t attack the ball, he can’t make his goalkeeper challenge. His arm is across his chest and then he keeps his arm there, holding his arm down.
“Rice’s challenge on Mavropanos comes after. The foul on Raya had already occurred. You have to go in sequence order.”
The contentious disallowance of the goal allowed Arsenal to secure all three points thanks to Leandro Trossard’s second-half effort.
Mikel Arteta‘s men are now on the brink of clinching the Premier League title, with Manchester City needing to drop points against either Crystal Palace or Bournemouth in the next eight days to see Arsenal crowned champions, provided they overcome Burnley next Monday.
