Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his verdict on one of the key decisions during Arsenal’s win over West Ham at the weekend.
Arsenal maintained their push for European football via their Premier League finish with a hard-fought victory over the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners took three points from the game after the decision to chalk Alexandre Lacazette's finish off for offside in the 78th minute was overturned after a lengthy VAR consultation.
The assistant referee originally ruled Mesut Ozil to be in an offside position before he flicked the ball to Lacazette, but replays showed the former Real Madrid man was onside and the goal eventually being awarded.
And while all the talk was about Lacazette's goal after the game, there was another incident which also brought controversy, with Eddie Nketiah going down under the challenge of Jeremy Ngakia inside the box.
Referee Martin Atkinson waved away the appeals of a penalty and Gallagher believes he was right to do so.
“I don't think this is a penalty either,” he told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday morning.
“It's inevitable he's going to catch him, because of where he is. [Jeremy] Ngakia realises he could foul him, and stops.”
Mikel Arteta's side now look ahead to two more crucial matches this week, with a midweek trip to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday followed by a visit to relegation-threatened Brighton on Saturday.
