Aston Villa vs Arsenal ref watch: Three decisions that Peter Bankes got wrong
Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon as Emi Buendia’s late winner opened up the Premier League title race.
An open first-half saw Aston Villa take the lead before the interval as Matty Cash latched onto Pau Torres’ cross to fire through David Raya‘s legs.
Arsenal hit back early in the second period as Leandro Trossard forced it home following some good play by Bukayo Saka down the right-hand side.
Emi Buendia made the Gunners pay for some missed chances as he bagged in the fifth minute of added-time and it ended 2-1.
Peter Bankes was forced to oversee a fast-paced, intense game, and Football Insider have looked at three decisions that he got wrong at Villa Park as a result.
Amadou Onana should not have been penalised for Declan Rice foul
It was a full-blooded first-half performance from the hosts that left Bankes with a number of tough decisions to make as they went crashing into numerous challenges.
The Villa faithful grew restless at some of his calls which they felt benefitted Arsenal, and they had every right to be annoyed with the foul he gave against Amadou Onana for his tackle on Declan Rice on the half-hour mark.
Onana went in with intent on the England midfielder, but clearly won the ball with his outstretched leg and yet was still penalised for an apparent foul. Poor call by referee Bankes.
Bukayo Saka was unlucky to see yellow after debatable foul called on Ian Maatsen
An already intense game became even more so in the latter stages as both sides aimed to take all three points and, more importantly, not lose the one they had.
Ian Maatsen went on one of his trademark mazy runs forward in the 74th minute before going down due to a sliding challenge from Saka who looked to have won the ball before he caught the Dutchman.
Saka was certainly unfortunate to be pulled up for the tackle, and his anger was made obvious as he screamed at Bankes to make his feelings on the decision to award a free-kick clear.
That reaction was enough for the England star to go into his book, which was the right call in isolation, but should never have happened regardless, as it wasn’t a foul.
Arsenal should have been awarded another late corner after Emi Martinez’s clear touch
Arsenal are fantastic at scoring from corners, with Rice racking up five assists already this season due to his fine deliveries from that position.
The close-fought nature of the Villa clash meant they were only awarded three corners all afternoon, but it should have been one more in the 85th minute as they pushed for an important winner.
Riccardo Calafiori had won the set-piece after his cross was blocked by Matty Cash, and while Rice’s inswinger looked to be sailing over the crossbar, Villa stopper Emi Martinez clearly palmed it over onto the roof of the net.
Such a small mistake by ref Bankes would have often gone unnoticed, but for the Gunners it could have been the difference between none and three points at Villa Park.