Former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and QPR striker, Les Ferdinand, has said Arsenal defender Gabriel “will be embarrassed” by his role in Newcastle United’s opening goal at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Nick Woltemade put Newcastle ahead in the 34th minute, heading home Sandro Tonali’s cross. Arsenal players immediately appealed for a foul, claiming Woltemade pushed Gabriel, but referee Jarred Gillett ignored the protests and VAR did not intervene.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Ferdinand said Gabriel went down too easily.
“When I first looked at it, I saw Gabriel go down and I thought, ‘oh no he’s put two hands on his back’.
“But then when I looked at it again, when Gabriel sees this, he will be embarrassed. He’ll be embarrassed when he sees that.
“I think it looked like there had been a push because all the players started appealing for it, but then when you see it again you think, ‘how did he go down for that?’” he said.
Woltemade’s strike, his second since a £69m move from Stuttgart, was not enough as Arsenal fought back with two late goals in the 84th and 95th minutes to seal a 2-1 win.
The result closed the gap between Arsenal and league leaders Liverpool to just two points after the Reds suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
