Ref Watch: Mark Clattenburg 'got all major calls right' in north London derby
Monday 7 November 2016 17:08, UK
Mark Clattenburg produced the perfect refereeing performance in the north London derby, getting every major call correct.
That's the view of former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who says Clattenburg was correct to allow Arsenal's opening goal and award Tottenham their penalty.
Here's Gallagher's verdict on other controversial decisions, including from Chelsea's impressive win over Everton and Dusan Tadic's reckless tackle on Ryan Mason.
MATCH: Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham, Premier League, Sunday
INCIDENT: Spurs defender Kevin Wimmer inadvertently heads Arsenal ahead at the Emirates
SCENARIO: The Austrian centre-back deflects Mesut Ozil's curling free-kick past his own goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, though replays showed that Alexis Sanchez, who did not touch the ball but was arguably involved in play, was offside from the German's cross.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I'm convinced the assistant referee has got it right. Were the players offside interfering with play? I don't think so. Laurent Koscielny is onside but Alexis Sanchez is offside. The player (Kosceinly) that impacts on the ball isn't in Wimmer's sight.
The only problem is trying to second guess what's in Wimmer's mind and what affected his decision. Did Sanchez affect that decision? Wimmer's reaction suggests that it didn't. The only player that could impact on him was Koscielny and he was in an onside position. The other two players that were offside didn't touch the play or affect Wimmer's decision.
INCIDENT: Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny fouls Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele in the area
SCENARIO: The Gunners' central defender ends the Belgium international's fine solo run by recklessly barging into the player, with Mark Clattenburg wasting no time in pointing to the spot.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I can't see any reason not to give it. He dangles his leg out and doesn't get the ball. There's no doubt he doesn't get the ball as Dembele moves it away from him. The Spurs man goes over Kosceinly's leg and it's a foul. Credit to Mark Clattenburg - he's the hardest working referee in the league. He's also the fittest in the Premier League - it's one thing being fit, but it's all about using it wisely.
INCIDENT: Spurs midfielder Victor Wanyama twice clashed with Arsenal forward Theo Walcott on the right-hand touchline
SCENARIO: The powerful Kenyan goes unpunished after a series of fouls, including an apparent elbow on Walcott towards the end of the first half that left the player holding the back of his head
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decisions
DERMOT SAYS: Regarding the first one, he's used his arm but it's not violent conduct.
I think the second one is just an accident. It's a foul at most - nothing more. They both are fouls but it's got to be malicious to be any more than that. I think Clattenburg refereed the game perfectly - he showed how to referee a big, big football match.
MATCH: Chelsea 5-0 Everton, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Eden Hazard opens the scoring after 19 minutes, however, Pedro looks like blocking Marten Stekelenburg's vision
SCENARIO: The Blues playmaker cuts in from the left, before firing a low shot past the Toffees 'keeper and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, but the shot stopper's line of sight appears to be blocked by Spaniard.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: Pedro is in an offside position but he doesn't affect the decision of the goalkeeper. By the time Pedro comes into his view the ball is past him. In the old days this goal would have been chalked off but people didn't want that - they want to see more goals. That's why it was changed. People in an offside position would only be penalised when they affect the game.
INCIDENT: Seamus Coleman lunges in with a strong tackle on Diego Costa
SCENARIO: Costa hits the deck on the edge of the penalty area after a strong tackle from Coleman, which left the Chelsea man with blood visibly on his sock. Referee Bobby Madley does not award the free-kick.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision, but a yellow card not a red
DERMOT SAYS: This is a classic case of a referee being aware. Seamus Coleman's first touch wasn't good and he overruns the ball. He's tried everything to get the ball back quickly and to do that he's lunged in, catching Costa across the ankle.
Costa actually did well for the referee as he got up straight away. However, it's not a nice tackle and it's a minimum yellow card. I wouldn't have sent him off as I think the tackle is low and it's not a brutal tackle to deliberately hurt the player. He's also come from a short distance, so his speed isn't going to endanger the player. It's a yellow card.
MATCH: Hull City 2-1 Southampton, Premier League, Sunday
INCIDENT: Saints playmaker Dusan Tadic and Hull midfielder Ryan Mason compete for a loose ball
SCENARIO: The Serb gets booked after launching a studs-up tackle that catches the Tigers player high on the leg.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision - it's a red card
DERMOT SAYS: I thought it was a red card. I think if a player makes this kind of tackle where his studs are knee-high then I can't I defend it. I've spoken to others who can understand why the referee only gave a yellow card because of where his position is. However, the evidence there is quite damming for Tadic.
