Ex-ref Halsey: Arsenal robbed of penalty in Southampton draw

Football
24 Oct 2022 • 10:10 PM MYT
Tribal Football
Tribal Football

Tribal Football covers news from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A

image is not available

Former Premier League ref Mark Halsey says Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty during their 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday.

The Gunners were held against the Saints as Stuart Armstrong's second-half goal cancelled out Granit Xhaka's earlier opener.

But the former referee believes Mikel Arteta's side should have had an opportunity to double their lead in the first half from the penalty spot. Gabriel Jesus was hauled to the ground by defender Duje Caleta-Car, in a similar vein to the incident which saw Chelsea be awarded a penalty against Manchester United as Scott McTominay impeded Blues striker Armando Broja in the clash at Stamford Bridge.

Halsey has suggested that the decision not to give a penalty has "highlighted the inconsistency of decision-making by officials".

He wrote in The Sun: "Arsenal should have been awarded a first-half penalty when Gabriel Jesus was hauled down by Southampton's Duje Caleta-Car.

"The incident highlighted the inconsistency of decision-making by officials this weekend, with Chelsea and Aston Villa benefitting in similar situations.

"Saints defender Caleta-Car wasn't goal-side and tried to make life difficult for Jesus but he committed himself to a clear holding offence and referee Robert Jones should have pointed to the spot.

"If Jones didn't see it, VAR official Peter Banks needed to intervene."