‘Everton Cheated Arsenal with help of VAR?’ Dermot Gallagher goes against Premier League’s verdict, reveals WHY David Moyes’ men should NOT have been AWARDED a Penalty against Arsenal after Jack Harrison was Fouled in the Box

Arsenal enjoyed a solid first half against Everton, courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s goal, but their fortunes flipped dramatically after the break when Myles Lewis-Skelly was ruled to have brought down Jack Harrison.

Official Darren England deliberated over the call before pointing to the spot, a delay that briefly fueled Arsenal’s optimism for a reprieve. Yet, after a lengthy pause, VAR upheld the penalty decision.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye kept his cool, outsmarting Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to slot home the equalizer for the home side. In the aftermath, the Premier League issued a clarification via social media.

“The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Lewis-Skelly on Harrison was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be sufficient for a penalty and inside the area,” the division’s account wrote. For Arsenal, a share of the points would fall short of what’s needed to keep their faint Premier League title dreams flickering.

Dermot Gallagher weighed in, suggesting Everton were lucky to earn the penalty in their stalemate with Arsenal, while also reviewing a slew of other contentious decisions from the weekend’s action.

INCIDENT: Darren England granted Everton a penalty at Goodison Park for an apparently tame challenge by Myles Lewis-Skelly on Jack Harrison. VAR backed the on-field call.

DERMOT SAYS: “I think if you’re going to give a foul to the forward in this instance, more of the foul occurs outside the area. Then he lets go of him. I don’t think it’s a penalty.

“The player’s reaction is key. But it’s never going to be overturned when given on-pitch.”

SUE SMITH SAYS: “I do think it’s soft. But Lewis-Skelly does fall onto him inside the area. I think that’s never going to get overturned. You can see why the referee has given it. He does connect with him.”

STEPHEN WARNOCK SAYS: “I’m still 50/50. I understand why it’s given because it’s clumsy. But if it’s not given I understand that because there’s little contact. Would that have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch? I think it would.”