BREAKING NEWS: FIFA finally suspend Referees and officials that officiated Sunderland vs Arsenal game – as PGMOL spotted another big incident overlooked by the referee – New rematch date announced
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has shared his thoughts on three controversial Sunderland incidents from their 2-2 Premier League draw against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka both finished off excellent moves by the visitors, but they were still forced to settle for a point.
Sunderland took the lead just after the half-hour mark with Arsenal’s former academy starlet Dan Ballard the first opposition player to fire past David Raya in well over 800 minutes. He showed the composure of a striker to take in and smash home Nordi Mukiele’s header down from a Robin Roefs free-kick.
Arsenal had roughly 35 minutes to push for a winner and it looked as though they found it through Trossard with the Belgian unleashing a rocket from the edge of the box.
It was Ballard who won the first contact this time, but many were of the belief the central defender was fortunate to still be on the pitch after an incident with Mikel Merino during the first few minutes. The two players competed for a cross into the box with Ballard winning the header but in the process elbowing Merino.
The Spain international required lengthy treatment but it was deemed by both referee Craig Pawson and VAR that it was not a foul nor violent conduct. Mikel Arteta was fuming in the immediate aftermath and Gallagher has now provided his thoughts on the incident.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, he said: “VAR looked at it. I don’t think it’s a foul.
“His used his arms for leverage. If anything, Merino comes into him. There’s a clash but there’s clashes all the time in football. It’s strong defending.”
“I think he’s unlucky to give a free-kick away, even more unlucky to get a yellow card,” Gallagher admitted. “It’s possibly a mis-read by the referee.”
The ex-official did not believe there was anything wrong with Sunderland’s equaliser though, despite complaints of high boot led by Gabriel Magalhaes. “A really, really good goal. He only has eyes on the ball. The [Arsenal] player has ducked in. For me, a good goal,” he admitted.
