Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has suggested Arsenal could’ve been given a penalty during their feisty north London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mikel Arteta became the first Arsenal manager ever to win three consecutive derbies away to Spurs in the Premier League - something legendary boss Arsene Wenger didn’t even manage.
But the match wasn’t without its drama. Arsenal might’ve been reduced to 10 men during the first half, after Jurrien Timber was involved in an altercation with Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
He was spotted grabbing Vicario’s shirt after the Argentine had sprinted from his goal to confront the Arsenal man which earned the Spurs shot-stopper a yellow card.
Timber, according to some, was lucky not to have been given a second yellow, having been booked for a crunching tackle on Pedro Porro just moments before.
The contentious talking points continued into the second half, specifically surrounding Arsenal’s opening goal, with claims Cristian Romero had been fouled for Gabriel’s header.
However, speaking to Sky Sport News’ Referee Watch, former official Gallagher rubbished such claims, instead pointing out Arsenal could’ve been given a penalty of their own.
When asked if the goal should’ve stood, he said: “I think yes, I think it’s a physical game and the referee lets a little bit go – interesting, if you think that’s a foul then there’s certainly a foul by the defender on the line.
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“I think it’s Romero who grabs someone round the waist which is more of a foul. So I think the referee has got that right.”
Fellow pundit Sue Smith was next to chime in, adding: “No I don’t think there’s enough in it [to rule it out], I think when you look at Romero, his body position, it has to be better.
“He’s facing the other way to Gabriel, there’s always going to be a slight physical contact in the area, I don’t think there’s enough of a push. I don’t think that should have been ruled out.”
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Manager Ange Postecoglou was inclined to agree with Smith’s sentiment, commenting on his side’s set-piece frailties by saying: "You know that they're a threat. As I said, for the most part we handled them really well today, but we switched off in one and we paid a price. You learn from that and you move on.
"It is what it is. It's my burden to carry and I'm happy to do that. Like I've always said, for me there's a bigger picture that's at play here that's much more important than the finer details of us getting to where we want to.”
It’s a swift return to action for Spurs, who are involved in League Cup action against Coventry City on Wednesday night, while Arsenal are in Champions League action against Atalanta on Thursday.