'He is lucky' - Dermot Gallagher issues verdict on incident during Newcastle United vs Arsenal

Arsenal pulled off a huge comeback win over Newcastle United on Sunday, scoring twice late on to pick up an important three points at St James’ Park. Mikel Merino scored with six minutes remaining to level and Gabriel Magalhaes scored six minutes into stoppage time.

The win means the Gunners slice the points deficit to Liverpool from five points to two after the Reds had lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

There were some interesting moments in both games, though, and in the Arsenal game, many felt as though Gabriel was lucky to stay on the pitch after he lashed out at Nick Woltemade.

"Gabriel is lucky he doesn't actually strike Woltemade properly,” former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports. "Where he is lucky is the referee hasn't seen it. It's gone to VAR and they don't think it's a red card. I don't think it's a red card.

"The referee has seen something has happened and what he does well is he calms them down and takes the sting out of the incident."

As for the appeal for a Gabriel handball, Gallagher dismissed it, explaining: “The rule is that if the ball strikes your body and flies up onto your arm, it's not going to be given because it is not possible to get out of the way."

As for the ruled out Viktor Gyokeres penalty, Gallagher added: “It shows how difficult it was with Gary Neville going from being adamant it was a penalty to being torn when he sees it again.

"Pope does get a touch on the ball. My immediate instinct was penalty... but Pope does plant his foot so he doesn't follow through with the tackle so that's why it was overturned. This year, they've tried to stick with the on-field decision as much as possible, but once the VAR looks at it, he's decided that Pope has played the ball - that's the key factor.

"He's sent the referee to the screen but he can still hold his ground. He can still say it's a penalty. Referees take everything into consideration - where the ball is going, the direction of play, would the player have got it?"

Liverpool controversy

The main point of controversy in the Liverpool game surrounded a potential handball from Mo Salah in the build-up, but the VAR team could not determine whether it his it hand or not.

"I honestly don't know about this one,” Gallagher said. “I usually have a gut reaction when I look at a replay and then I make up my mind. I've looked at this again this morning, I looked yesterday and on Saturday, and I still can't tell if he's handled the ball. "In that case, unless you are convinced he's handled the ball, play on."

Former Arsenal striker Jay Bothroyd added: “ I think it's handball. I've seen different angles, I've seen it slowed down, and it looks like it has hit his hand. It even looks like it has put off the defender. He's not able to get a full head on the ball and that's how you can tell it has hit his hand. Liverpool got away with one."

Your next Arsenal read, Arsenal vs Olympiacos early injury news as 5 ruled out and 1 doubt