Newcastle’s striker Nick Woltemade has acknowledged that he may have downplayed the impact of the contact from Gabriel Magalhaes, who avoided punishment despite an incident in the match against Arsenal. The Gunners clinched a late victory at St James’ Park, with Gabriel scoring the decisive goal after escaping a potential red card earlier.
Woltemade initially put Newcastle in the lead with a header, but Mikel Arteta’s team turned the game around late on. Mikel Merino equalized with a header from Declan Rice’s cross, and Gabriel sealed the win by converting Martin Odegaard’s corner kick.
Newcastle was displeased with the referee’s decision not to send off Gabriel for an elbow incident involving Woltemade. Despite the striker’s reaction and referral to VAR, the clash did not meet the criteria for a red card.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Woltemade described the incident, stating his preference for fair play and expressing discomfort with embellishing contact. He emphasized the importance of a competitive yet ethical game environment.
Gabriel shared celebratory posts on his Instagram following his winning goal, which propelled Arsenal to second place in the league standings, trailing behind leaders Liverpool after their loss to Crystal Palace.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher remarked on the incident, suggesting that Gabriel was fortunate not to receive a card for the elbow incident. He explained the VAR process and the decision-making involved in such situations.
Sky has announced a discounted price for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the upcoming season, offering a significant saving and an expanded coverage of live matches across various leagues. Sky’s broadcast plans for the next season include an increased number of live Premier League games, providing viewers with more extensive coverage than before.