Arsenal ran out 2-1 winners against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday but it wasn’t without controversy
09:56, 29 Dec 2025Updated 10:14, 29 Dec 2025
Dermot Gallagher believes it was the right decision not to award a penalty after Gabriel Jesus went down after a challenge from Ferdi Kadioglu(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes the correct decisions were made during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion following red card and penalty disputes. Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen escaped with a yellow card after clattering Viktor Gyokeres while John Brooks felt that a fair challenge was made when Gabriel Jesus went down in the box.
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table, after Manchester City momentarily snatched top spot from them with their dramatic win over Nottingham Forest, as a Martin Odegaard strike and an own-goal was enough to edge past Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
The Gunners sit two points clear at the summit, with Aston Villa trailing by three points ahead of Tuesday night’s showdown with the surprise title contenders.
The hosts endured a nervy ending and needed a superb save from David Raya to keep the visitors at bay. They could have enjoyed a more comfortable scoreline and were denied a spot-kick late on.
The home supporters at Emirates Stadium were up in arms when the Brazilian went to ground following a nudge from defender Ferdi Kadioglu.
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However, Gallagher dismissed the claim of a penalty, saying: “It’s a coming together, no foul at all. Players make contact but it’s a contact sport.”
In the first half, Gyokeres was set through down the far left side but the Dutch goalkeeper came out looking to sweep the danger away.
However, the Sweden international got there first, knocking the ball away, before he was hacked down by shot-stopper. But the ex-top-flight official deemed the challenge from Verbruggen was “reckless” but not enough to warrant a red card.
“It was reckless and reckless is a yellow card,” he said. “He doesn’t win the ball and Gyokeres is going away from goal, it is not a goal-scoring opportunity.
“I didn’t think anything other than a yellow.”
Former Gunners striker Jay Bothroyd disagreed as he criticised the challenge for endangering his old side’s talisman.
The 43-year-old believes Verbruggen was fortunate not to be sent off. He said: “It thought it was dangerous. Gyokeres has done well, he knows he’s the favourite. And Verbruggen has clattered him.
“Because he’s not in control of it, it should be a red card. It’s like the Isak challenge, when you’re reckless and throwing yourself into the ball, you’re endangering players.
“Why is a reckless challenge a yellow card? It’s out of control and endangering players? Again, the terminology is confusing me.
“That’s a red card challenge all day long.”
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