‘Impossible’ - Former Premier League referee reviews key Newcastle United v Arsenal incident

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallager has explained why Newcastle United’s winning goal against Arsenal was allowed to stand.

Anthony Gordon netted the only goal of the game which was subject to three VAR checks for the ball going out of play, a foul on Gabriel by Joelinton and an offside against Gordon.

The VAR review lasted five minutes before the goal was awarded. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta branded the decision an “absolute disgrace” but Gallager has given an insight into the thinking at Stockley Park.

“The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line,” Gallagher told the Premier League. “You can look at it from that angle and it is impossible to tell.

“We see it with corners where it looks over the circumference but the ball overhangs so they are allowed to play. I think that might be the problem with this, that they can’t be sure that some of that ball isn’t overhanging the line. There is no evidence to say the ball is out of play.

“It isn’t whether the ball is in play but whether the ball is out of play.

“Stuart Attwell didn’t think it’s a foul. That’s the difference. The VAR didn’t think there was enough contact to overrule the referee so therefore the on field decision stood.

“The offside, which they looked at for a long, long time, but couldn’t find the lines to decide where the ball was when it struck Joelinton to come down.

“The ball is obscured, so they have no start point. And that’s the problem. You need to start point to get to a conclusion.”