Max Dowman penalty, Saliba handball and Gillett concerns  – Arsenal vs Leeds referee review

Referee Jarred Gillett had a good game against Arsenal depite two major calls needing to be made (Image: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images / BBC Sport / Premier League)

Arsenal continued their winning start to the Premier League season with a five-goal thumping of Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium. It was a party-like atmosphere in N5 as two braces and a Bukayo Saka goal saw off the newly promoted side.

However, the game was not without its refereeing drama and VAR involvement . There was much made of Jarred Gillett being the chosen official to take charge of the game a week before the Gunners’ match with Liverpool.

William Saliba handball

There was not much to discuss from an officiating standpoint until Arsenal’s fourth goal of the match in the second half. Another Declan Rice corner was swung into the box to cause utter chaos for the opponent, who had already conceded from one in the first half.

As the cross comes in, Jurrien Timber gets his head to it first once again but this time the contact is not clean. It bounces down onto the ground and drops onto an arm, which is slightly raised by William Saliba, before Pascal Struijk touches it away with his left foot. Riccardo Calafiori then kicks the ball up, and Timber stretches to toe it past Lucas Perri.

FL review: The handball rule is very complicated to read in today’s game, with some goals being given for instances like this and others not. The rules state that if a player puts the ball in directly with their arm (below the point in line with the bottom of the armpit), it will be ruled out.

However, the touch from Saliba’s arm is important in how the ball leads to the goal and is a key part of it, especially considering his arm is raised. If Arsenal were to concede a goal like this, I suspect there would be a fair amount of aggrievement at the action.

FL verdict: The VAR followed the on-field decision. However, Saliba's touch with raised arm had too great an influence. The goal should not have stood.

William Saliba spotted handling the ball before Arsenal's fourth goal against Leeds United (Image: Premier League / BBC Sport)

Max Dowman penalty win

It is still stunning to think a player of such a young age can not only make their debut for a Premier League side like Arsenal but have already such a big impact in games. A characteristic jaunt into the box from the right, shifting his weight to his right and Anton Stach brought him down.

FL review: While initially there were some suggestions that Dowman had gone down rather easily, it was evident in further angles exactly why. The right foot, as Stach clearly is late, comes down on Dowman’s own left foot. Feeling impeded, he fairly goes to ground and wins the penalty.

FL verdict: Correct call, penalty awarded.

Max Dowman is clearly tripped by Anton Stach to give Arsenal a penalty against Leeds (Image: BBC Sport / Premier League)

Referee performance Jarred Gillett

If perhaps you are out of the loop and wondering what the gripe Arsenal fans have with referee Jarred Gillett, it mainly stems from a red card that Saliba received as a result of Gillett, who was on the VAR for a match with Bournemouth last season. The suspension meant Saliba would miss Arsenal’s match with Liverpool in the following game.

Fox Sports commentator Brenton Speed revealed the official’s fandom in 2019. "He told me about this a couple of months ago, said keep it under your hat because I’m not sure whether I’ll get the appointment," Speed said on the Fox Football Podcast .

"That’ll be the last game he ever officiates at Anfield because he had to fill out a document when he agreed to join the referees' board over there, and you have to fill in the team you supported as a boy/man, and he said it was Liverpool. So that means your taken off all their games, home or away."

That being said, there was certainly no evidence of any wrongdoing by Gillett in this match. He had a very solid game, allowing the match to flow where necessary, making strong calls (other than when he failed to spot Saliba's arm touch, but this was certainly more so on VAR to see), and calling the correct fouls when they arose.