Ex-PL referee gives verdict on 6 controversial decisions from Arsenal vs Man Utd

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has spoken about the officiating during Arsenal's 3-1 win against Manchester United on Sunday

Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Manchester United was filled with controversy from start to finish.

Eventually, stoppage-time finishes from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus clinched all three points for Mikel Arteta's side but some United supporters argued that Rice's goal should have been disallowed for a potential foul in the build-up. The ball dropped at the England international's feet following a Bukayo Saka corner, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Jonny Evans seen grappling in the box.

Some fans thought that the Brazilian centre-back had impeded Evans but former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dismissed those claims. "I think it could have been a foul the other way," Gallagher told Sky Sports when asked if Gabriel fouled the Northern Irishman.

"I think Jonny Evans does as much (as Gabriel), they are both grappling with each other. In the end, Jonny Evans actually throws Gabriel out of the way so it's a difficult call but the referee has got the perfect view. Could have easily gone the other way and it would have been a penalty."

Gallagher also gave his view on Alejandro Garnacho's disallowed finish, claiming that there can be no argument regarding the offside call or the angles that VAR is shown. "It's calibrated from a number of positions around the ground and if it's really, really tight, they put the cross lines on," he replied when asked about the offside lines.

"We've come to agree now that this is what VAR is for. It's right or wrong and with offsides, we know that. If they put the lines across and they say it's just offside, it's just offside Rob. Once you put the lines along, you've seen that Gabriel hasn't tilted forward quite as much as Garnacho."

United boss Ten Hag thought his side should have had a penalty following a tussle between Gabriel and Rasmus Hojlund but Gallagher again backed Taylor's decision to wave play on. "Physical contact but I think the defender's just too strong, I think he just pushes the ball too far and the defender just holds his ground," he said when shown a replay of the incident in question.

"He doesn't do anything wrong. I see this all the time and I've have been stunned if Anthony Taylor had given a penalty for it."

"I think so," he said when asked if they came to the right decision in the end. "Hand on heart when I saw that yesterday I thought penalty. When I saw the second replay, I changed my mind 100 per cent.

"For me, I thought he tripped him (Havertz), when I saw the replay, I see this. Wan-Bisaka placed his foot and I think Havertz goes into him so I think the right decision was come to and that's what we want. We talked about it last week."

There was some clamour for Bukayo Saka to be awarded a red card in the first half following a studs-up challenge on United captain Bruno Fernandes. In the build-up, Saka had been fouled himself before lunging in, with Taylor giving the Gunners a free-kick whilst also booking the Hale End academy graduate in the process.

When asked to explain the decision, Gallagher added: "He (Saka) was fouled first, no doubt about that but he still follows through. I think the fact that he was low and I think the fact that he's come from such a short distance (with) no intensity makes it a yellow card rather than a red card.

"It's not one where he's come four, five yards through the air so he's got massive intensity. But it's a foul and a yellow card. It's ironic isn't it, he gets a yellow card and according to the law they restart, quite rightly with a free-kick to Saka."

United had a moment of their own when a red card could have been given, with Victor Lindelof fouling Eddie Nketiah in transition. Replays showed that Lindelof's foot was high but it wasn't enough for more than a yellow according to Gallagher.

"It was checked by VAR, I listened to it," Gallagher said when asked if the clash was looked at. "It was felt that it was a yellow card, it can't be DOGSO (Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity) because it's too far out on the wing.

"He doesn't actually catch him in the head. It's what I would call a strong yellow card but it's a foul and a yellow card. If you look at it, it looks much worse. When you actually see what happens, he doesn't;' catch him with his studs, he doesn't catch him in the face, he doesn't catch him high."