Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the officials' decision not to show Arsenal defender Gabriel a red card during the win over Chelsea.
Gallagher deemed that Gabriel made an honest attempt at the ball when he kicked Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez in the head during a scramble in the first half.
Incident in the box
The incident occurred early in the match, after Chelsea had taken the lead and Arsenal were pushing for a swift equaliser. Martin Odegaard played a low free-kick to the near post, and Riccardo Calafiori failed to make clean contact as he slid in.
A chaotic scramble followed, with Gabriel on the floor challenging with Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato as Martinez tried to claim the ball in the mass of bodies. As Gabriel swung a boot at the ball, he kicked Martinez in the head.
The Chelsea goalkeeper required treatment, but no further action was taken by the officials.
Mixed opinions
Wayne Rooney claimed that was a mistake, arguing that Gabriel was "extremely lucky" to avoid a red card. However, Gallagher insisted the right decision was made, pointing to the touch Gabriel got on the ball before connecting with the goalkeeper.
"They're all on the floor," Gallagher told Sky Sports. "There's a big tangle. He definitely goes to kick the ball and he gets the ball, his foot actually gets the ball."
"That's why it pops out of Martinez's hands. Martinez grabs the ball, [Gabriel] goes to kick, gets the ball. Then his foot goes up and catches Martinez in the head."
Asked whether the ball was in both hands when Gabriel then kicked Martinez, Gallagher added: "It was but he's gone to kick the ball because there's such a tangle. He's gone to get it. I don't think there's any malice whatsoever in it."
That opinion was shared by former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, who criticised Martinez's reaction to the contact. "I thought his ball slid off the top of the ball and then caught Martinez," Sherwood said. "Martinez makes far too much of it. That's the red flag. If I'm a referee, I'm thinking he's trying his best to get him sent off."
