A number of Arsenal fans have vented their frustrations with Craig Pawson on Twitter following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
The Gunners conceded two late goals as the Blues came from 1-0 down to snatch victory at the Emirates, with Jorginho scoring the equaliser after many believe he should have been sent off for a second yellow card.
Pawson instead booked Alexandre Lacazette in the aftermath for his protests, and many Arsenal supporters are fuming with the referee’s decision.
Twitter: That is awful referrring from Craig Pawson. How can he dish out card after card, and then not book Jorginho for a c… https://t.co/G9g15x4V4H (@BagsMan6)
Twitter: Everything was going so well, especially defending… That moment when Craig Pawson decided not to give the obvious… https://t.co/DThEeeVSWX (@claudewuAFC)
Twitter: Referee Craig Pawson deserves it. Undoubtedly changed the outcome of today’s match. https://t.co/7jtHCNV05W (@abhiz30)
Twitter: Craig Pawson absolutely bottled it today. No red card for Jorginho for a clear professional foul, only for him to e… https://t.co/HDkKP4AYgu (@_AdamKeys)
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Pawson’s decision to not show Jorginho a second yellow card was certainly a pivotal moment in the game, and hugely surprising given the amount of bookings he dished out throughout the rest of the game.
The Chelsea midfielder clearly pulled Matteo Guendouzi down while Arsenal were on the break, and should have been given his marching orders from Pawson.
However the referee kept the yellow in his pocket until Lacazette protested too much, and that proved crucial as Jorginho won the free-kick before capitalising on Bernd Leno’s error to equalise for Chelsea.
