Arsenal find themselves a goal down against Newcastle after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring at St. James’ Park. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) completed three separate checks before confirming the goal could stand.
The first check was regarding whether the ball had gone out of play prior to Gordon turning the ball into the back of the Gunners’ net. The second check was to see whether there was a possible foul on Gabriel Magalhaes as Joelinton appeared to push his arms into the Arsenal defender’s back when challenging for the ball.
The third and final check was to see whether Gordon was in an offside position when he received the ball, before firing past David Raya. VAR deemed that there was no conclusive evidence for the ball being out of play, or whether Joelinton had handled the ball when challenging Gabriel for a header – therefore, the goal was given.
Ultimately, Newcastle took all 3 points on the night, of which Eddie Howe told the PGMOL to severely punish managers for speaking openly after being hard done by VAR.
LAST NIGHT, NEWCASTLE GOT HIT BY KARMA IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
Eddie Howe says Polish referee Szymon Marciniak needed to be stronger to stick with his on-field decision as Kylian Mbappe’s last-gasp penalty denied Newcastle a famous victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
The Magpies looked to be heading for a famous 1-0 win at the Parc des Princes until match official Marciniak awarded a spot-kick against Tino Livramento after a VAR review, allowing Mbappe to level in the eighth and final minute of added time.
Howe, who said in a television interview that the official had been placed under “extreme” pressure by the PSG players, labelled a decision which cost his side two precious points “poor” in his post-match press conference.
Asked if he felt a sense of injustice, he said: “Yes, I do. It wasn’t the right decision in my opinion.
“There are so many things to take into account at that moment, the speed first. It was a ricochet that when it is slowed down, looks completely different to the live event.
“The ball hits his chest first, comes up and hits his hand. But his hand is not in an unnatural position, they [his hands] are down by his side, but he is in a running motion.
“I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game. There is nothing we can do about it now.”
Speaking to TNT Sports, Howe added: “What you don’t take into account with those replays is how quick the ball goes. It hits his chest first. If it hits his hands first, well it’s still not a penalty because he’s so close. But you can make more of a case.
“It’s not a penalty when it hits his chest first and then hits his hand which is low. I’m not allowed to sum it up. I can’t say my inner thoughts obviously [I’d get in trouble].
“I thought the referee was having a good game up until this moment. He had been strong.”
The pivotal moment arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Ousmane Dembele attempted to deliver the ball across the Newcastle penalty area and saw it hit Livramento’s side and rear up on to the underside of his arm.
Mr Marciniak, who had earlier seen decisions not to award spot-kicks for an Anthony Gordon challenge on Achraf Hakimi and a shout for handball against teenager midfielder Lewis Miley upheld, was advised to review the incident and this time decided to award the penalty.