BREAKING NEWS… Referee Jarred Gillett Banned over Arsenal goal Decision against Aston villa – Arsenal board set to charge the Fa to court to redeem their points which will see Arsenal topping the table ahead of Liverpool
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted the decision to disallow Kai Havertz’s late goal for Arsenal against Aston Villa was the correct one. John McGinn gave Unai Emery’s side the lead after just seven minutes with the Gunners unable to take their chances for the majority of the game until it looked like Havertz had snatched a point.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, though, Jarred Gillett blew his whistle for a handball just moments after the ball crossed the line with a VAR check sticking by the original decision. Following the defeat, Arteta was reluctant to offer his thoughts on the matter having watched the game in the stands after picking up his third yellow card against Luton Town earlier in the week.
Much has been said on the Havertz disallowed goal but also on the Douglas Luiz foul on Gabriel Jesus that didn’t result in a penalty being given. Earlier in the day Crystal Palace were awarded a spot-kick for a very similar action and that is what angered most with a serious lack of consistency on show.
Although many felt as though the Havertz goal should have stood, Gallagher insisted that the right decision was made regardless of Matty Cash also appearing to handle the ball. “There is no doubt it hits his arm and he puts the ball in the net, so under the new law that’s how it is,” he said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.
“The good thing is that the referee did spot it on field and he gave it on-field so the VAR check is because the ball has gone in the net. It was the referee who disallowed the goal and quite rightly. On Cash handling moments later, he added: “Because Havertz has committed the offence to score the goal, that would negate Matty Cash’s [handball].
“I think it was the right decision. It struck his arm, it’s unlucky and he doesn’t mean to but that’s the rule. The good thing is it was spotted and given on-field and I think that’s what we were talking about last [we want to see] more decisions being made on-field because it looks much better.”
