Dermot Gallagher shares verdict on West Ham United controversy in draw v Arsenal live on Sky Sports
Dermot Gallagher believes the penalty for West Ham United was correctly awarded in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal despite the ball striking Declan Rice’s hand in the build-up.
Said Benrahma converted from the spot to spark the Hammers’ comeback against the league leaders on Sunday (16 April), a point that moved David Moyes’ team four points clear of the relegation zone.
Despite Gabriel blatantly bringing down Lucas Paqueta in the penalty area, Arsenal fans took to social media to complain after seeing the ball pop off Rice’s hip and strike his arm earlier in the move.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Ref Watch, and as shared by Football Daily, former FIFA referee Gallagher admitted that despite the ball coming into contact with the Hammers captain’s arm, it didn’t directly lead towards the goal, so it was therefore correctly ignored.
“Right, the thing with this is, did it come off his [Rice’s] hip and onto his arm, I’m not sure,” he said.
“Does it strike his arm? If it strikes his arm, the referee has to make that decision. He has to decide is that deliberate.
“The referee says no, so it goes on. It didn’t lead directly to a goal so it, therefore, can’t be ruled out for that, it led to a penalty.
“They have to be convinced it was a deliberate handball. A bit like last week with Coufal at Fulham when the ball struck his arm, he crossed the ball it got knocked out, again it had to be [justified as a] deliberate handball.
“It’s not a deliberate handball, so that’s the overriding factor.”
Correct decision
There was absolutely no way that West Ham’s penalty was going to be ruled out after the on-field decision was made.
There was no intent from Rice when the ball inadvertently popped up to strike his arm, and it wasn’t in the same phase of play as the penalty being scored, so there was no legal way it could be overturned.
Calls from Arsenal fans on social media stating that this was the reason they dropped points are simply absurd.
West Ham United were by far the better side after the opening 15-minute blitz by the Gunners, carving open several goal-scoring opportunities which they should really have done better with.
The performance from Moyes’ side was a throwback to the West Ham from the last two seasons.
The press was high and aggressive, Michail Antonio was back to his bullish best, and Jarrod Bowen was an attacking livewire whenever he got on the ball down the right wing.
After months of drab performances, it finally seems like West Ham may have turned a corner in their fight against relegation.