Spot the difference: Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United being refused penalty late in game against Arsenal
Arsenal delivered a late one-two sucker punch to Newcastle United on Sunday as the Magpies let a one-goal lead turn into a 2-1 defeat.
For the neutral, it was probably a fantastic game to watch as both sides gave everything in an action-packed football feast, but for the fans of both sides, it was a frustrating afternoon.
Arsenal had an early penalty decision overturned by the narrowest of margins after Nick Pope was deemed to have got the ball before taking out Viktor Gyokeres. It was ultimately the right decision, but the touch was very faint, and we could, with our black and white glasses set aside for a moment, see how Arsenal fans could be frustrated that the penalty award was overturned.
However, if we can accept that Arsenal had a right to feel hard done by with their non-penalty, then they have to agree that we suffered a similar fate late on after Anthony Elanga's cross was handled by Gabriel - who, let's remind ourselves again, shouldn't even have been on the pitch.
Newcastle were denied a penalty on a technicality
There was no doubt that the ball struck Gabriel's arm, which was well away from his body, but the official ruling after VAR review was that the ball had hit his shin on the way, and by the letter of the law, if the ball touches another part of a player's body before the arm, then it's not handball. To the letter of the law, it was the right decision. Common sense says otherwise as the touch off the shin barely altered the ball's trajectory, but we take it and move on.
And that is the difference. While Mikel Arteta couldn't wait to moan to the Sky Sports cameras about their overturned penalty, Eddie Howe took his decision with grace.
"I haven't seen them again so that's why I haven't mentioned it.
"I don't know if VAR didn't give the handball, I had a feeling it was initially but it wasn't given so you have to accept it.
"You have to look at yourselves first, otherwise you will not grow and develop. Is it a case for us to analyse and see where we can improve."
The difference between the two managers is night and day
Even in victory, Mikel Arteta can't just enjoy the moment; he has to find something to be bitter about.
It would be interesting to get Eddie Howe's take today after he's reviewed the incidents to see if his position has changed, but given how the Toon gaffer thrives on positive thinking, he's probably already completely moved on.
The Arsenal game doesn't even exist to Eddie Howe now; it's all about Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday evening.
