Phil Dowd
He had a shocker, in my opinion. I think Arsenal were being told, via his decisions, that referees will stand up for each other. Impugn one, you impugn us all, and I suspect that was a factor in some of his decision making. For example, look at
this Barton tackle on Arshavin in the first half. Thats at least a yellow card yet he played on. I cant understand that at all. Straight through the back of the player and we didnt even get a free kick.
The first penalty was generous but theyre the kind you get at home when youre 4-0 down. The second penalty, however, is still baffling. Ive watched it over and over again and I cant see a penalty. If thats worthy of a penalty kick then you would have 28 penalties a game. Its a scandalous decision and I think Dowd got that badly wrong, caught up in the fervour of the Newcastle comeback.
If there was free kick to be given in the second half, he gave it. The one that led to Newcastles fourth was typical. Barton played for it, Dowd reacted to the screams from the crowd and we know what happened when Arsenal headed clear. But if thats a free kick how on earth can he not give the one on Arshavin? Or the time when van Persie was flattened just outside their area and he waved play on.
Also, if hes going to send off Diaby, rightly so, for grabbing Barton around the neck, why doesnt the same thing apply to Kevin Nolan who did almost the same thing to Wojscez. After the the first penalty our keeper
kept hold of the ball, it was our kick-off after all, Nolan grabbed him a headlock and threw him to the ground. The only difference between that and Diaby is that Diaby retaliated. That Wojscez was booked made it all the more farcical.
However, Dowd wasnt a problem in the first half when we played Newcastle off the park and went 4-0 up. He certainly played a part and that second penalty would make you question him in a very serious way but ultimately we were the masters of our own downfall.
