Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper, Joe Hart, has explained why Arsenal were not awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Nick Pope appeared to have brought down Viktor Gyokeres during their Premier League Match Day 6 encounter on Sunday at St James’ Park.
At first glance, referee Jarred Gillett awarded a penalty to Arsenal following the incident, but the video assistant referee intervened afterwards.
With VAR intervention, the referee viewed the pitch-side monitor and overturned his initial decision.
Arsenal were left furious over the call, but Hart explained that it should never have been a spot kick.
“As Gyokeres went through, the immediate goalkeeper in me said, ‘I hope Pope got a touch on that, but I’m not 100 per cent sure’,” Hart said on Match of the Day.
Hart noted that Pope not only made contact with the striker and diverted the ball away from goal, but stressed that this was not the important point.
“As Pope plants his foot, he’s deemed not to be using a forward motion towards Gyokeres,” he explained.
“Therefore, as Gyokeres’ knee clashes into Pope’s knee, it is just seen as a clash of bodies. It’s not Pope taking him out. It’s not a foul. Not a penalty.”
After the match, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka told Sky Sports that Arsenal are always on the wrong side of referees’ decisions.
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, was convinced his team had been denied a penalty by the match officials.
Joe Hart explains why Arsenal were denied penalty in Newcastle clash