Arsenal striker Gyokeres sought to capitalise upon a short Jacob Murphy backpass early on and looked to have been fouled by Newcastle goalkeeper Pope. Gillett initially pointed to the spot but was instructed by the VAR to review replays on the pitchside monitor that suggested the Magpies shotstopper got to the ball first despite subsequently wiping out the Swedish forward.
And after reviewing the footage, Gillett overturned his penalty decision, much to the dismay of Arsenal supporters.
Gillett then announced his decision at St. James’ Park, telling the home crowd: “Afterreview, theNewcastlegoalkeeper plays the ball and there is no foul. The final decision is a drop ball.”
While Arsenal fans were incensed, Gillett could then be heard telling Gunners star Bukayo Saka about the reasoning to avoid a drop ball rather than a penalty, saying: “Before there is any contact, the goalkeeper gets a toe on the ball, that’s why.”
Arteta was fuming, adding: “Well, I watched it back and watched it live as well. And if it’s not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. We’ve been told this for a few years, this style of decision again, and for me, it’s very clear that it doesn’t have to intervene because it’s a penalty.”
He added: “We fully deserved the win. The way we played, the way we competed. We fully deserved the win.
“The chances we generated. I think we fully deserved to win the game. We did it in a dramatic manner, but so happy and so proud of the team.”
Despite coming away with a huge three points, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wasn’t pleased about VAR intervening on the penalty incident, saying after the full time whistle: “If it is not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. We have been told this for a few years and at the start of this season again.”
And Saka, despite being informed of the reasoning, added: “The fact that it took the ref that long to decide shows it is not a clear and obvious error.”
On Match of the Day, Joe Hart backed the decision, saying: “Pope, with those size 13 feet of his, gets a toe on it. Not only does he get a toe on it, he manages to divert the ball away from goal. But that’s not the most important point. As Pope plants his foot, he’s deemed not to be using a forward motion towards Gyokeres.
“Therefore, as Gyokeres’ knee clashes into Pope’s knee, it is just seen as a clash of bodies. It’s not Pope taking him out. It’s not a foul. Not a penalty.”
Arsenal return to league duties at home on Saturday afternoon as they welcome West Ham to the Emirates. The Gunners, who boast a 100% start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos on Wednesday night, are unbeaten at home in the league this season having claimed seven points from three matches.
And Arteta has been forced to provide an injury update on last weekend’s hero Magalhaes ahead of Saturday’s game against the Hammers. The Brazilian centre-back came off in the 75th minute against Olympiacos on Wednesday night but the Arsenal boss is confident that the 27-year-old will be fine for the weekend.
“I think he’s going to be okay,” Arteta said. “He felt something, I think it was a kick, I’m not sure, in the first half, and he was a bit uncomfortable, and towards the second half he was there.”He could carry on, but we decided not to take any, really, because he’s played a lot of games, he comes from a long-term injury as well, and we need to look after him.”
