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Ref Watch: No penalty for Antonio Valencia but Callum Wilson decision wrong

Antonio Valencia is brought down by Nacho Monreal in the Arsenal penalty area
Image: Antonio Valencia goes down under the challenge of Nacho Monreal

Referee Andre Marriner made the correct decision not to award Manchester United a penalty following Nacho Monreal's challenge on Antonio Valencia.

That's the view of former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, who says Marriner made the right call during United's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday.

We asked Gallagher to give his verdict on several of the weekend's controversial incidents, including Callum Wilson's penalty appeal against Stoke and Virgil van Dijk's shirt pull on Roberto Firmino at St Mary's.

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MATCH: Stoke 0-1 Bournemouth, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: No penalty for Bournemouth after Ryan Shawcross' challenge on Callum Wilson

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Were Bournemouth denied a blatant penalty against Stoke?

SCENARIO: Wilson is through on goal and brought down by Shawcross, but the Stoke defender is not penalised.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision.

DERMOT SAYS: The only thing I can say here is the learning point for the referee is, if you miss something you miss it. Don't see something that didn't happen - he's pointed to the ball as if the defender got the ball, which he quite clearly didn't. It's stonewall, you will never see a clearer penalty.

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INCIDENT: No foul by Wilfried Bony

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Was Wilfried Bony lucky to avoid a red card against Bournemouth?

SCENARIO: Bony is on a yellow card when he appears to go over the top of Simon Francis' leg. The referee awards a drop ball after a conversation with the fourth official.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision.

DERMOT SAYS: He awarded a drop ball because he doesn't think it is a foul - it's definitely a foul. The referee hasn't seen it for whatever reason, but it's definitely at least a second yellow card for Bony. It could well be serious foul play and a red card. It certainly wasn't an incident where the referee should be giving nothing.

MATCH: Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: No penalty for Nacho Monreal's challenge on Antonio Valencia

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Should Man Utd have had a penalty against Arsenal?

SCENARIO: Valencia skips around Monreal and goes down in the penalty area, with the Arsenal defender's arm across his Manchester United opponent, but the referee does not award a spot-kick.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

DERMOT SAYS: I don't think it is a penalty. Monreal runs a risk by putting his arm out but Valencia is already on the way down. So many people looked at this on Saturday, some said yes, some said no, that's how tough this decision is. When that is the case, you have to support the referee's call.

INCIDENT: Matteo Darmian avoids second yellow card after challenge on Carl Jenkinson

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Should Matteo Darmian have been sent off against Arsenal?

SCENARIO: Darmian had already been booked when he went in late on Jenkinson on the touchline. The referee gave a free-kick but did not issue a second yellow card.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Wrong decision initially, but correct decision overall.

DERMOT SAYS: I think the referee makes his mistake by booking Darmian for the first challenge on Theo Walcott, I don't think it is a yellow card. Whether later he then thinks I've been too harsh, I don't know, but for me the second challenge (on Jenkinson) is a yellow card. In isolation it's a booking, but I think he may have thought, 'I'm going to have to send him off for two yellow cards and one wasn't'. When you look at them together, he's got the right outcome as Darmian stays on the pitch. Overall, he got it right.

MATCH: Watford 2-1 Leicester, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Danny Drinkwater's apparent elbow on Valon Behrami

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Watch the incident involving Danny Drinkwater and Valon Behrami

SCENARIO: Behrami goes down off the ball after an apparent elbow by Drinkwater but the referee appears not to see it.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Drinkwater likely to face retrospective action.

DERMOT SAYS: It's obviously not seen by the referee and I think this is quite blatant. The referee is following the ball and you have to presume he didn't see the actual incident. If you see that as a referee, you are sending him off. Nobody can argue with that because the pictures are quite damning.

MATCH: Southampton 0-0 Liverpool, Premier League, Saturday

INCIDENT: Virgil van Dijk's shirt pull on Roberto Firmino

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Take a closer look at Virgil van Dijk's shirt pull on Roberto Firmino

SCENARIO: Van Dijk pulls Firmino's shirt as the Liverpool forward approaches the Southampton penalty area, but referee Mark Clattenburg waves away Firmino's appeal.

DERMOT'S VERDICT: Van Dijk should have been penalised.

DERMOT SAYS: This is a tough call for the referee because it's difficult to determine whether it's inside or outside the penalty area. It happens so fast. If it's outside the penalty area, it's a red card and a free kick. If it's inside, it's a penalty and a yellow card. It's tough for Mark because Van Dijk's body actually shields the offence. It was not an easy one and I'm still not sure whether it's inside or outside even now.

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