Arsenal dropped points for the second time in a row in the space of just over a week after their 2-2 draw with West Ham United. The game was a perplexing occasion with the Gunners seeming in control before surrendering it by conceding a penalty against the run of play.
The Hammers were looking quiet and the crowd was nearly silent but when Gabriel Magalhaes brought down Lucas Paqueta in the box everything changed. However, there were questions from the Arsenal supporters in the build-up to the penalty regarding whether Thomas Partey’s flick had then been handled by Declan Rice.
The referee David Coutts decided in the moment this was not deliberate and there was no suggestion by the VAR team for the official to check the monitor. This caused quite a stir amongst the Arsenal supporters online who took to social media to post still images and videos of the incident.
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The moment was discussed on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch with former official Dermot Gallagher and former players Steven Warnock and Sue Smith. Gallagher explained why Coutts had decided to allow the penalty to be taken despite the handball claims.
“Right, the thing with this, does it come off his hip up onto his arm?” asked Gallagher. “Not sure.
“Does it strike his arm? If it strikes his arm, the referee has to make that decision.
“He has to decide, is that deliberate? The referee is right behind him and says, 'No' so it goes on.
“It didn’t lead directly to a goal so therefore it can’t be ruled out for that, it led to a penalty. But they have to be convinced that was a deliberate handball.
“A bit like last week with Coufal, West Ham at Fulham, when the ball struck his arm. He crossed the ball, it got knocked out, got knocked back in, again it had to be a deliberate handball.
“Dave Coutts said, 'Not a deliberate handball' so that’s the overriding factor.
Agreeing, Warnock said: “I think it was the correct decision, I didn’t think it was handball. I thought, if anything, it actually struck him on his midriff or just on his side.
“If it does hit the arm, which I can’t see it. I’ve looked at it so many times then it probably comes off the side and then onto the arm, definitely not deliberate.”
To which Smith also agreed. Former official Mark Halsey also said that the handball was not a deliberate action and therefore did not infringe on the decision to award a penalty.
"There were suggestions Declan Rice handled the ball in the build-up, but even if there was contact, it looked to be accidental and accidental handball is not an offence. VAR would not get involved in that situation because it was subjective."
Ultimately the game swung on two penalties. The one that the Gunners naively conceded, due to two poor decisions from Thomas Partey and Gabriel Magalhaes and then the one Bukayo Saka missed two minutes before the West Ham equaliser.
I have said it time and time again that despite the shortcomings of officiating this season, Arsenal need to take the game beyond the decisions of the officials and win by their own means. Mikel Arteta’s side have gained two two-goal leads in successive matches and dropped points, something their title-challenging rivals Manchester City have not done once.
Yes, more needs to improve. However, in this specific case it is not an example of one.
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