ZeeboiEverton managed to earn a valuable point in their Saturday afternoon clash with Arsenal.
The visitors went ahead before halftime, with Leandro Trossard striking a shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
However, David Moyes’ halftime talk evidently had an impact, as his team emerged with renewed energy and quickly equalized.
Marking his full return to the squad, Iliman Ndiaye converted a penalty to level the score.
It’s been a week filled with contentious officiating decisions for Everton, following their midweek Merseyside Derby.
Mark Clattenburg argued that Liverpool’s goal in that match should have been ruled offside, and there was significant debate surrounding an incident involving James Tarkowski.
The controversy has spilled over into Everton’s match against Arsenal, particularly regarding the penalty they were awarded after a VAR review.
Mike Dean criticizes Everton’s penalty against Arsenal as ‘soft’:
After Liverpool’s goal wasn’t overturned in the derby, Everton might feel a sense of justice with the penalty they received against Arsenal.
Jack Harrison, who has faced criticism throughout the season, managed to outmaneuver Myles Lewis-Skelly, who then fouled him inside the penalty area.
Commenting on Sky Sports, Mike Dean expressed that he found the call to be very lenient, though he acknowledged the reasoning behind it.
“There’s a bit of contact outside and there’s a little bit of contact inside,” he said.
“I think it’s a soft one. It’s probably not wrong, but it’s a soft one.”
Ndiaye, who had come back from injury earlier in the week during the Merseyside Derby, celebrated his return to the starting lineup by finding the net.
Considering Everton have had penalty decisions go against them recently, the Toffees will likely have no qualms about accepting this call in their favor.
Michael Dawson concurs that Everton’s penalty against Arsenal was lenient:
Just weeks ago, Ashley Young had a penalty decision controversially overturned in a match against Manchester United.
“I don’t know why Lewis-Skelly doesn’t go to attack it… Harrison gets the wrong side of him,” Dawson added.
“I think this is awfully soft, but it’s gone to VAR… I can see why it was given in real time.
The initial contact between the players started outside the penalty area, but it’s evident that Lewis-Skelly made further contact with Harrison’s foot inside the box.
Ndiaye was clinical from the penalty spot, demonstrating to the fans exactly what they’ve been missing during his time sidelined.
It would have been intriguing to see if VAR would have prompted referee Darren England to review the decision at the monitor had he not initially awarded the penalty on the field.
Zeeboi
