Arteta's Penalty Outrage: Dissecting the Controversial Decision in Everton vs Arsenal Clash

The Controversial Moment That Changed the Game

At Goodison Park on Saturday, Everton's Iliman Ndiaye converted a 49th-minute penalty to cancel out Leandro Trossard's first-half opener for Arsenal. However, the awarding of the spot-kick by referee Darren England - subsequently confirmed by VAR - left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta furious.

Arteta's Explosive Reaction

"I've reviewed the incident 15 times - it's never a penalty," Arteta told BBC Match of the Day. "We were completely controlling the match until this questionable decision changed everything."

The incident occurred when Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly challenged Everton's Jack Harrison in the box. While there was contact, analysis shows:

• Minimal shoulder-to-shoulder contact
• Harrison already beginning his fall before contact
• No clear obstruction of scoring opportunity

Expert Perspectives

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described it as "an extremely soft penalty," adding: "These are the marginal calls that VAR was supposed to eliminate, not compound."

Interestingly, Everton manager David Moyes declined to offer support for the decision: "I haven't reviewed it, so I can't comment on its validity."

Title Race Implications

The 1-1 draw dealt a significant blow to Arsenal's title aspirations:

• Arsenal now trail Liverpool by 5 points
• Liverpool need just 11 points from remaining matches
• Arteta admits: "We have no margin for error now"

VAR Under Microscope Again

This incident joins a growing list of controversial VAR decisions this season:

The Premier League's match center defended the decision, stating the contact was "deemed sufficient" for a penalty.

What This Means for Arsenal

Arteta's side must now:

1. Regroup psychologically after this setback
2. Improve defensive discipline (gave away 14 fouls)
3. Hope for Liverpool to drop points

The manager remained defiant: "We've shown we can compete at the top, but these moments change seasons."