Atletico Madrid 1-1 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta ‘fuming’ with officials

We have had two nights of handball controversy, first involving Bayern Munich and now Arsenal.

In each instances, the ball took a deflection off the physique earlier than hitting the arm, and followers have been conditioned into pondering this implies there can’t be a penalty.

What referees truly search for is a transparent change of trajectory. Why is that? As a result of it means the arm place wouldn’t create a barrier to the pure course of the ball.

If the ball stays on roughly its supposed path, then the ball touching the arm takes precedent.

The penalty given in opposition to Alphonso Davies on Tuesday wouldn’t have been awarded within the Premier League because the arm was too near the physique.

For Uefa, the truth that the arm strikes out from the physique earlier than the ball hits it might trump the small deflection.

However Ben White’s handball in opposition to Atletico was a really clear penalty underneath Uefa’s definition. The arm was a good distance out from the physique and got here in to make contact with the ball.

There may be some discretion if the arm is being introduced in to make the physique smaller, however in White’s case it began from up to now out, a penalty could be anticipated.

The Premier League is extra relaxed than Europe even with regards to deflections earlier than a handball. That mentioned, Arsenal defender Gabriel ought to have actually conceded a penalty at Newcastle earlier this season as his arm, when sliding, was raised very excessive and the deflection off the physique was negligible.

Would the ball deflecting off White’s shin have brought on VAR to remain out of this within the Premier League? Probably, however the motion of the arm was very clear.

A particular spot-kick in Europe, borderline for the Premier League.