Jack Grealish of Everton interacts with David Moyes, Manager of Everton, as he heads into the tunnel for the half time break during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Jack Grealish of Everton interacts with David Moyes, Manager of Everton, as he heads into the tunnel for the half time break during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Getty Images
Everton lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Saturday night but the result was not without controversy
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes his old side were lucky not to concede a penalty as Everton lost 1-0 to the Gunners on Saturday night.
The only goal of the game cam via Viktor Gyokeres as the Swedish striker hammered home a penalty in the first half. VAR intervened to help award the spot-kick as Jake O’Brien clearly handled the ball from a corner. The incident was only spotted on review from VAR.
In the second half, Everton were left frustrated that VAR did not get involved when William Saliba kicked Thierno Barry in the penalty area but did not make contact with the ball. The incident did not appear to be spotted by the referee.
VAR did check the challenge but ruled there was not sufficient contact to award the penalty.
Jack Grealish was seen insisting to the referee on the field that it should have been a penalty. Speaking after the game, ex-Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp said: "We have definitely seen these given. It reminds me of Joao Pedro for Brighton also with Saliba involved.
"You can see it, Thierno Barry just gets his right foot to it and he definitely kicks him. You can see Jack Grealish's reaction. He's apoplectic. Barry definitely gets his foot up and Saliba kicks the back of his heel.
"David Moyes will come out and say that he is disappointed they didn't get that. We've seen some penalty decisions this weekend and there are a lot worse than that have been given.
"We've got VAR whether we like it or not. That's what it is there for, to intervene. They've got very fortunate there, Arsenal."
On the penalty call, Moyes himself said: "I think they’re saying it’s insignificant contact, and it might have been. May well have been. They come up with new words for every decision don’t they."
He added: "It was a day where just a lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. There was quite a few people going down injured. The referee was blowing up for them. It’s a different football club here. We play tough. We expect our referees to do the same."
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