Mikel Arteta explains why Gabriel handball did not lead to Bayern Munich penalty

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the referee for using «common sense» by not penalising Gabriel for handball in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich.

Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel was livid after referee Glenn Nyberg allegedly admitted he did not punish Gabriel, who picked the ball up from a short David Raya goal-kick before restarting play himself, because it was a "kid's mistake".

While Gabriel may have committed a handball by the letter of the law, Arteta hailed Nyberg's decision not to interrupt play.

«Yes, I did notice it, especially after when there was a certain reaction from [the Bayern players],» Arteta told the press ahead of Arsenal's clash with Aston Villa.

«I think the referees used the law. The law says to use common sense and whether you take an advantage from that situation, which there isn't an advantage.»

According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB): «Referees are expected to use common sense and to apply the 'spirit of the game' when applying the Laws of the Game.»

This use of common sense is commonly referred to as 'Law 18' in IFAB's Laws of the Game, which does not actually include a Law 18.

«If you are arguing for this to be a penalty kick, with all due respect, you hate football,», FIFA match official and rules analyst Christina Unkel told. «Here, we have to use common sense and Law 18.

»At no point was any advantage taken away from Bayern in this situation and, most importantly, it was just an honest and legitimate mistake. There was no reason why the defender would have picked up the ball and placed it, aside from the fact he never heard the whistle in the first place."

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