According to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, Arsenal were rightly awarded a penalty for the handball by Cristian Romero in the North London derby at the weekend.

A tense and entertaining derby played out between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Both sides went into the game with an unbeaten start to the league season, and both managed to retain that record after a 2-2 draw.

It was a difficult day for Spurs defender Cristian Romero, however. In the first half, he scored an own goal, after sticking out a leg to deflect a Bukayo Saka shot past Guglielmo Vicario. 

In the second half, Romero was penalised for a handball in the box after blocking a Ben White effort from close range. Saka duly converted the resulting spot kick to give Arsenal the lead, albeit a brief one.

Tottenham boss, Ange Postecoglou, spoke after the game about his confusion regarding the rules when it comes to handball (Football.London).

Tottenham Hotspur’s Senegalese midfielder #29 Pape Matar Sarr (L) vies with Arsenal’s German midfielder #29 Kai Havertz (C) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Handball was the right call, says Dermot Gallagher

One man who should know the rules is former referee, Dermot Gallagher. Speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), Gallagher confirmed giving the penalty was the right decision.

He said: “Does Romero use his arms to balance, I would say yes. But his arms are out, it strikes his arm, and blocks the ball going in.

“He may feel he’s unlucky, but actually he’s really fortunate that Yves Bissouma is behind him, because he could have been sent off otherwise as that ball was going in.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There is literally no other way for Cristian Romero to have put himself in the way of the ball as a defender there. He had to go for it, as a natural instinct, and his arm is purely for balance.

From that distance and speed, you cannot punish a defender for the ball hitting the arm. But it’s done now and we have to accept the decision. 

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