Arsenal Vs Bolton | Gallas foul in build up to Fabregas goal

Description of incident: The move that led to Arsenal's second goal, scored by Fabregas, started with a Gallas tackle on Davies. The ref was only yards away from the tackle and allowed play to continue.

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010

Home Team: Arsenal | Away Team: Bolton Wanderers

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Mick McDonough & John Flynn

Decision Type: Free kick | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: I have the feeling Arsenal would have come back anyway but this made sure | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Mark Davies (Bolton)

Summary: The only positive I can provide from the referee's point of view is that his position was fantastic. But that just makes it all the more shocking that he managed to miss this foul. Not only was it a foul, it ended Davies' participation in the game. I'm not saying there was any intention to hurt Davies by Gallas but it was a stomping challenge with his studs landing on Davies' ankle. Wrong decision, free kick missed.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Merida goal ruled onside

Description of incident: Fabregas brought the ball forward, delaying his pass to Eduardo until the very last moment and risking an offside call in the process. No call came and Eduardo's cross found its way to Merida who controlled & finished superbly.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas, Da Silva Eduardo, Fran Merida (Arsenal) & Gretar Rafn Steinsson (Bolton)

Summary: This was a really tight call, so hats off to the referee and linesman for getting it right. Eduardo was played onside by Steinsson, just. And I'm only confident in that decision because of video replays combined with Sky+ pause & rewind! It's times like this where video replays would ruin the game - we could end up with a scenario where, even though the goal would be allowed by the ref, it would invariably lead to video review due to protests, delaying the game and resulting in the same decision regardless. That's only one side of the coin, obviously.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Fabregas denied 2nd penalty

Description of incident: Fabregas was wrestling with at least two Bolton defenders. As he shielded the ball, Knight slid in to challenge. The result being Fabregas tumbling inside the penalty area for the second time only for Dowd to rule no penalty for the second time as well.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 4/5

Affect on Result: TBD | Winner: Bolton | Loser: Arsenal

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Zat Knight (Bolton)

Summary: For the second time in the game, I feel Fabregas was denied a certain penalty.  This was a harder decision than the first as there was a forest of legs for him to see the incident through and the same was true of the linesman's view. However, once again, if a player decides to slide in, misses the ball and catches the player, it just has to be a penalty.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Fabregas denied penalty

Description of incident: Fabregas raced onto a through ball as Jaaskelainen came charging out of his goal to intercept. Fabregas, heading away from goal, reached the ball first as the 'keeper slid in feet first. Fabregas tumbled but the referee ruled no penalty.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: TBD | Winner: Bolton | Loser: Arsenal

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton)

Summary: This was one of those incidents where the nature of the foul probably did not warrant a penalty (Fabregas was heading away from goal, was going to struggle to retain the ball & it was only a minor touch by Jaaskelainen) however, if Fabregas gets the ball first, Jaaskelainen slides in and makes contact with him and not the ball (all of which happened), it has to be a penalty.  Similar to the Lucas penalty shout for Liverpool yesterday, only Lucas also got booked for diving!

Cheers,
WB

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