MARK CLATTENBURG: Paul Tierney’s decision to award Tottenham a penalty was SOFT despite being technically right and I’m not sure I’d have given it… but Rob Holding was stupid and naive and HAD to go
- Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Arsenal on Thursday night was a typically feisty affair
- Referee Paul Tierney had plenty of decisions to make throughout the evening
- Below Sportsmail columnist Mark Clattenburg discusses the key officiating calls
Tottenham’s 3-0 North London Derby victory against Arsenal on Thursday night was a typically feisty affair.
Referee Paul Tierney had plenty of decisions to make, and gave Spurs a first-half penalty, converted by Harry Kane, before sending off Gunners defender Rob Holding, decisions manager Mikel Arteta did not seem to be happy with.
So, Sportsmail columnist Mark Clattenburg discusses the key officiating calls in the game, concluding Tierney got one right and one wrong…
Referee Paul Tierney (centre) had plenty of decisions to make in the North London Derby on Thursday night, so Sportsmail columnist Mark Clattenburg discusses the key officiating calls
THE PENALTY WAS SOFT…
This was a defining decision in a match with so much riding on the result and I’m not sure I would have given this. Technically, Paul Tierney wasn’t wrong.
We were shown a replay of what the referee could see from behind and it looked like a nudge in the back from Cedric Soares on Son Heung-min.
But if we’re going to give this as a penalty, I could find plenty of other examples when the same ‘foul’ has occurred in the box in other games.
The inconsistency is frustrating because when this happens next week in another Premier League game, will it be given? Maybe. Maybe not. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Tierney considered it a clear foul and Harry Kane said thank you very much.
Clattenburg feels the Tottenham penalty for Cedric nudging Son Heung-min over was soft
…BUT HOLDING HAD TO GO
Holding had already been fouling Son prior to receiving his first yellow, almost targeting the Spurs forward in a running battle.
Although referees allow a degree of feistiness in these derbies, Tierney finally lost patience with Holding and booked him for his third foul on Son, this time for pulling back his opponent.
Given he was already on a yellow, it was therefore stupid of Holding to block Son’s run using an elevated arm.
Antonio Conte’s teams love making it so that the referee has decisions to make. Holding fell for it hook, line and sinker, and his naivety sank Arsenal.
But the red card shown to Rob Holding (out of shot) for fouling Son was spot on for Clattenburg
