Ref Watch: City goals fine

Dermot Gallagher is back to look through the weekend’s biggest refereeing talking points from the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger claimed both Manchester City goals were offside in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at the Etihad, but what is former referee Gallagher’s own view? 

Is holding in the penalty area really being reduced? And should Jamie Vardy have seen red for Leicester against Stoke? Dermot gives his view…

Leroy Sane goal – Man City 2-1 Arsenal

INCIDENT: Running onto David Silva’s through ball, Sane looked to be inches ahead of the line before scoring past Petr Cech to make it 1-1 at the Etihad. The linesman gave Sane the benefit of the doubt, but Wenger claimed the goal should not have stood.

DERMOT’S VIEW: He’s marginally offside, but it’s impossible to see with the naked eye. Only his boot. So I would concede it is marginally offside, but it’s an incident that every referee and every linesman in the Premier League would let go.

Raheem Sterling goal – Man City 2-1 Arsenal

INCIDENT: As Sterling shot past Cech to make it 2-1 to the hosts, Silva was stood in an offside position, but was not adjudged to be impairing the goalkeeper’s vision. Silva did flick out a leg, but was not in line with Cech at any point. Wenger again claimed the goal should not have stood, though Cech admitted that Silva had not come into his line, and that his own Arsenal team-mates were the only players obstructing the view as they attempted to block Sterling’s effort.

DERMOT’S VIEW: As you can see he is not impacting on the goalkeeper, he is not in direct line with him, or his vision. There is a perfect angle to show he does not …

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