Monday 19 December 2016 17:52, UK
Dermot Gallagher is back to look through the weekend's biggest refereeing talking points from the Premier League.
Arsene Wenger claimed both Manchester City goals were offside in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at the Etihad, but what is former referee Gallagher's own view?
Is holding in the penalty area really being reduced? And should Jamie Vardy have seen red for Leicester against Stoke? Dermot gives his view...
INCIDENT: Running onto David Silva's through ball, Sane looked to be inches ahead of the line before scoring past Petr Cech to make it 1-1 at the Etihad. The linesman gave Sane the benefit of the doubt, but Wenger claimed the goal should not have stood.
DERMOT'S VIEW: He's marginally offside, but it's impossible to see with the naked eye. Only his boot. So I would concede it is marginally offside, but it's an incident that every referee and every linesman in the Premier League would let go.
INCIDENT: As Sterling shot past Cech to make it 2-1 to the hosts, Silva was stood in an offside position, but was not adjudged to be impairing the goalkeeper's vision. Silva did flick out a leg, but was not in line with Cech at any point. Wenger again claimed the goal should not have stood, though Cech admitted that Silva had not come into his line, and that his own Arsenal team-mates were the only players obstructing the view as they attempted to block Sterling's effort.
DERMOT'S VIEW: As you can see he is not impacting on the goalkeeper, he is not in direct line with him, or his vision. There is a perfect angle to show he does not impact on Cech's vision. The law says he must impact on an opponent.
INCIDENT: The Swede avoided a red card after a hefty shoulder-charge on West Brom's Craig Dawson, instead receiving a sixth caution of the season. Referee Anthony Taylor did not deem the incident to be serious foul play.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I think that's certainly a yellow. The difference is, that is aggressive, not violent. It's not an act of violence, he's kept his elbow down, hasn't hit him the face. It's not a nice challenge, but the yellow was right.
INCIDENT: Rondon was lucky to escape a sending off after slapping Rojo during a confrontation at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The West Brom striker had been involved in a physical battle with the Manchester United defender throughout the match, and they tangled again on the right-hand side in the 66th minute.
As the trio tussled in the box, Rondon appeared to raise his hand and slap the Argentine in the face, leading to cries from Phil Jones for a sending off.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I think Rondon there isn't too clever when he raises his hand. I think if the referee sees that it could be a red. The referee doesn't see it because Rondon's body covers it. It's not the wisest thing to do. He was a very, very lucky boy to stay on the field.
INCIDENT: Vardy was shown a straight red card by referee Craig Pawson for a two-footed challenge on Mame Diouf during the 2-2 draw.
Vardy and Leicester feel he had been knocked off balance immediately before the challenge, and that there was no malice. They have now appealed against the red card.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I think in view of what has happened this week, in the two days I have seen it since, the right decision has been made. At the start of the season the referees were asked to penalise airborne challenges. When a player is airborne he isn't in control and doesn't know where is going to stop. Is he in control? No. Is he likely to endanger his opponent? Yes.
INCIDENT: The Leicester defender was penalised in the first half as a cross from the left caught his arm in the area. Bojan duly converted the spot kick as Stoke went 1-0 up.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I think I would have had more of a problem explaining why he didn't give a penalty, with Danny Simpson's arm above his head like that. I think it's a handball all day long. His arm is so high, it's stopped the cross, it has to be handball.
INCIDENT: The Tottenham midfielder goes in high on Burnley's Stephen Ward, attempting to pull out at the last minute but still catching his opponent. He is shown a yellow card.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I think he is lucky. If he'd got a red card he wouldn't have been able to argue. His foot starts too high, and you can see him trying to get out of the way, and I think that's what saved him.
