Gunners survive Morgan magic
WATFORD manager Javi Gracia said he would back a referees’ vote on VAR after a tough afternoon for the officials at St Mary’s.
Gracia sympathised with referee Simon Hooper but said he would be open to video technology.
The Hornets were denied a penalty just before the hour, while Southampton had a goal ruled out.
“If they want it, I agree,” said Gracia. “If they think it helps them to do their job better, I support them.
“I say this because I know it’s not easy. Sometimes in training sessions I’m the referee. I know it’s very difficult to manage all the players, all of them complaining.”
Gracia defended the standard of officiating in the Premier League.
“In other countries everybody speaks about the level of the referees here,” he said. “They deserve the recognition. It’s a good level.”
But Watford should have had a penalty when Nathaniel Chalobah was brought down by Ryan Bertrand, while Southampton’s Maya Yoshida said he was nowhere near the ball when Charlie Austin’s 66th-minute strike was disallowed.
“The referee said I was offside but the ball was miles away from me,” said Yoshida. “The shot had a double touch and a slight deflection but I didn’t touch it.
“It’s the wrong decision, 100 per cent. At 2-0, it’s over. We spoke about getting a second goal at half-time in the dressing room, knowing it was going to be really important, and we did. The game changed after a wrong decision from the ref. It’s unacceptable.”
Manolo Gabbiadini ended his St Mary’s drought after 391 days with a 20th-minute opener but Watford earned a point through Jose Holebas late on. RISING England starlet Morgan Gibbs-White came agonisingly close to scoring a memorable Wolves winner at the Emirates.
“I was thinking, and wanting and wishing, I almost prayed for the ball to go in,” said Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo after the Under-19 international’s late 20-yard strike hit the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety.
“It came to him and he brought energy. We were looking for more speed because Arsenal were really high and there was more space for us to explore. And he almost did it.”
Instead, by the narrowest margin, Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to 16 matches.
That said, it has been a difficult few days at the Emirates. Boos from the home fans greeted the whistle and news emerged that the injury to Danny Welbeck on Thursday night had been as bad as everybody had feared. “It is a break,” Unai Emery said. “He had an operation on Friday.