Former top referee rules on these controversial Newcastle v Arsenal incidents | OneFootball

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on these incidents in the Newcastle v Arsenal match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during key moments in this match at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United and Arsenal in a match packed with incident…

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Newcastle v Arsenal controversial incidents:

VAR Darren England intervenes after referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty to Arsenal after Nick Pope appeared to foul Viktor Gyokeres. The referee changed his mind after looking at the screen and overturned the decision.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“It shows how difficult it was with Gary Neville going from being adamant it was a penalty to being torn when he sees it again.

“Pope does get a touch on the ball. My immediate instinct was penalty… but Pope does plant his foot so he doesn’t follow through with the tackle so that’s why it was overturned.

“This year, they’ve tried to stick with the on-field decision as much as possible, but once the VAR looks at it, he’s decided that Pope has played the ball – that’s the key factor.

“He’s sent the referee to the screen but he can still hold his ground. He can still say it’s a penalty. Referees take everything into consideration – where the ball is going, the direction of play, would the player have got it?”

Dermot Gallagher on the similarities with the Robert Sanchez incident from the previous weekend:

“It was different. He touches the ball and follows through with the tackle… with the Pope one, he touches the ball but he plants his foot and does no more.

“Pope does not go into Gyokeres. He’s stopping.”

Newcastle’s appeals for a penalty for handball against Gabriel were turned down by Gillett. VAR checked the incident but stuck with the on-field decision.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“This is a really interesting decision.

“The rule is that if the ball strikes your body and flies up onto your arm, it’s not going to be given because it is not possible to get out of the way.”

Gabriel also escaped punishment after a clash with Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“Gabriel is lucky he doesn’t actually strike Woltemade properly.

“Where he is lucky is the referee hasn’t seen it. It’s gone to VAR and they don’t think it’s a red card. I don’t think it’s a red card.

“The referee has seen something has happened and what he does well is he calms them down and takes the sting out of the incident.”

My conclusions

As Dermot Gallagher indicates, much of the emphasis now is about trying to stay with the on the pitch referee’s decision as much as possible.

So if the referee makes a decision, it is now less likely that VAR will direct them to overturn it. The bar has been made higher for the original decision to be challenged.

The Pope incident was an easy one though. As Dermot Gallagher points out, Pope makes contact with the ball. That alone rules out the penalty, or should do. Whilst the fact that then Gyokeres was the one to make contact with Pope, not the other way round, simply doubles the fact that the referee on the pitch got it wrong.

For me, if Jarred Gillett (referee on the pitch) had given the red card for Gabriel and/or the penalty for the Arsenal defender’s handball, then the VAR isn’t going to suggest overturning them.

Gabriel should have been red carded for the Woltemade incident but Gillett (allegedly!) didn’t see it happen.

Whilst with the Elanga non-penalty, the ball doesn’t change direction in any way. It brushes off Gabriel’s shin on the way to hitting his arm but doesn’t change the direction the ball is travelling in any way.

Have to say as well that I am very disappointed that the Tino Livramento incident hasn’t been made a major issue. Tino stretchered off after landing awkwardly and damaging his knee it appears, this caused when the Newcastle defender jumped to head the ball and when he was in mid-air, Saliba made no effort to jump for the ball and instead cynically ran into Livramento, causing him to land so awkwardly. Saliba not even getting a yellow card, never mind the red it deserved.

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Sunday 28 September 2025 4.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Woltemade 34

Arsenal:

Merino 84, Gabriel 90+6

Possession was Newcastle 36% Arsenal 64%

Total shots were Newcastle 8 Arsenal 20

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Arsenal 7

Corners were Newcastle 7 Arsenal 12

Touches in the box Newcastle 17 Arsenal 43

Newcastle team v Arsenal:

Pope, Livramento (Lascelles 77), Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton (Barnes 94), Tonali, Gordon (Trippier 67), Woltemade (Osula 67), Murphy (Elanga 66)

Subs:

Ramsdale, Krafth, Willock, Miley

(Mikel Arteta manipulation of the media is now laid bare – Quite incredible – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United fixtures (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (5.45pm)

Sunday 5 October– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)