Arsenal picked up their first Premier League draw of the season last weekend as they blew a 1-0 lead against Southampton to draw 1-1 at St. Mary’s.
Granit Xhaka put the visitors ahead in the first half, only then to have Stuart Armstrong score the equaliser for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.
One talking point from the game saw the Gunners denied a potential penalty after striker Gabriel Jesus was being held by Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ latest edition of Ref Watch, former referee, Dermot Gallagher said: “It’s a tough call, I think there is a tangle of legs. It is untidy but it seems a little bit unfair to call it a foul because the Southampton defender does get the ball.
“People will say he does catch him, he plays for the ball, he is clumsy, but they are both playing for the ball. I’d say I go with the referee.”
Speaking after the match at St. Mary’s, Jesus revealed that Robert Jones, the referee on the day, had said to the Brazilian that if he had gone down during the incident, the penalty may have been given.
Bearing in mind how the game finished in terms of the points being shared, it’s safe to assume that had the penalty been given, that could have changed the game and the scoreline.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why some Arsenal supporters may be feeling aggrieved by the whole thing.
Moving forward, despite the disappointing result and having missed out on what could have been a viable penalty given Gallagher’s hesitancy over what the correct decision should have been on the day, the best thing Arsenal can do now is move on and focus on getting back to winning ways and keep their place at the top of the Premier League table.
