'I don't think': Former referee Dermot Gallagher gives bizarre take on key incident in Newcastle United v Arsenal game
Newcastle United and Arsenal put on a magnificent showcase for the Premier League on Sunday as the two sides played out another fiery contest, packed with incidents.
There were penalty appeals at both ends, which VAR got involved with, successfully ticking off both sets of fans, but there was an incident in the first half that went largely unnoticed that many people, especially Newcastle fans, believe should have garnered a lot more attention.
Following Newcastle's opening goal, where Arsenal centre-back Gabriel threw himself to the floor after the slightest touch from Nick Woltemade, the Brazilian seemed to take massive offence and let the Newcastle striker know just how unhappy he was right after the kick-off.
In an off-the-ball challenge, Gabriel runs into Woltemade and, with a clenched fist, strikes the German in the face. This all happened behind the referee, but bizarrely, VAR looked at it and did nothing.
Dermot Gallagher thinks players punching other players in the face is a yellow card. Pass it on.
Just as strangely, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, whose take on the big calls as part of Sky Sports News' Ref Watch segment are getting stranger by the week, says Gabriel would only have got a yellow had the ref seen it.
"I think he's lucky he didn't actually strike him properly because where he's got lucky is the referee hasn't seen it, it's gone to VAR and VAR say red card or nothing. It's decided it's not a red card.
"I don't think it's a red card. I think if the referee sees it, he's certainly going to get a yellow card."
Nick Woltemade's honesty was Gabriel's saving grace
Jay Bothroyd makes the point that if Woltemade goes down holding his face, it gives VAR a decision to make, but the fact that the German is so honest is the real reason Gabriel stayed on the pitch.
For us, the fact that Gabriel goes in with a closed fist shows that there was clear intent there; whether he gets a clean connection or not, he did make contact, it was intentional, and if Nick Woltemade had stooped to Arsenal's level of trying to con the referee, the red card would have been out.
WE're not sure what planet Dermot Gallagher is on here, but it was red all day, every day and twice on Sunday as far as we're concerned.
