Arsenal beats Newcastle in drama: referee prohibits Calafiori from drying the ball.

Passions on the Arsenal field due to an unusual rule

According to The Sun: Italian footballer Riccardo Calafiori was prohibited from using a towel to dry the ball before executing a long throw-in — and this happened due to a little-known Premier League rule.

In the 27th minute of the match against Newcastle, the referee stopped Calafiori, who was trying to throw the ball into the opponent’s penalty area. Referee Jarred Gillett had previously canceled a penalty awarded for goalkeeper Nick Pope's foul on Viktor Gyokeres, which caused outrage among the Arsenal team and their manager Mikel Arteta. Calafiori was more confused than outraged.

The referee prohibited him from using a towel found in Pope's goal. This situation occurred just a day after Jefferson Lerma from Crystal Palace used a towel before throwing in, which led to Eddie Nketiah's winning goal in the match against Liverpool.

According to Premier League rules, both teams must agree on the use of towels to dry the ball. If one of the teams opposes this or fails to reach an agreement, the use of towels is prohibited.

Goalkeepers can use their own towels to dry their gloves or wipe off sweat. This season, the Premier League has returned to long throw-ins, however, unlike the EFL, towels are still allowed.

Arsenal's victory and match summary

Arsenal began actively using long throw-ins, demonstrating their effectiveness in Champions League matches. In the encounter with Newcastle, they confirmed their skills, returning to the game after some controversial moments.

Newcastle opened the scoring, but Arsenal quickly equalized and then scored another goal, winning 2-1. Calafiori ultimately remained satisfied with the match result.

This story sparked considerable resonance among fans and highlighted the importance of adhering to the rules of the game. Despite temporary disputes, Arsenal demonstrated resilience and adaptability in challenging situations, allowing them to earn crucial points in the tournament.