In September 2013, Match of the Day pundit Gary Lineker described as "shocking" referee Martin Atkinson's decision to disallow Jozy Altidore's goal against Arsenal. Arsenal won the contest 3-1 and, on the face of it, it looks like a fairly routine, run of the mill victory for Arsene Wenger's side. Yet it was anything but. The Gunners had taken a 1-0 lead but Graig Gardner brought the scores level at one apiece and Sunderland had a fighting chance of snatching something. Aaron Ramsey made it 2-1 to the Arsenal but Sunderland should have again hauled the scores level when Altidore blasted in from the edge of the box. The goal was chalked off as Altidore was adjudged to have fouled Bacary Sagna in the buildup but it was a mere coming together of the two players and Atkinson's call was soft to be polite. Decisions such as these can make or break a season with the result moving Arsenal top of the league and sending Sunderland into the relegation zone, where both sides remain today.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
