Former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison has insisted that the Blues should’ve had a penalty against Arsenal.
The Toffees were beaten 1-0 on Saturday evening, with a Viktor Gyokeres penalty separating the two sides.
A Jake O’Brien handball midway through the first half handed the Gunners the opportunity to take the lead.
Gyokeres, with just one goal in his last 10 league games, eagerly accepted O’Brien’s act of generosity.
However, the Blues should’ve also had the chance to score from the spot. Indeed, Arsenal defender William Saliba kicked the back of Thierno Barry’s foot inside the box.
The Everton forward was clearly first to the ball, though the officials deemed Saliba’s challenge to have ‘insufficient contact’.
Former Everton captain Hutchison disagrees, insisting it was a ‘stone wall pen’.
Posting on his Twitter account, Hutchison stated: “On the stone wall pen for Everton v Arsenal on Saturday night. They say insufficient contact.
“Well let me explain. When your a player inside your own 18 yard box (Saliba) you are trying to volley the ball as far away and as hard as possible! (so loads of sufficient contact)”
BLUES DENIED CLEAR PEN, BUT ABSENT PLAYERS CAN’T COME BACK QUICK ENOUGH
It is a sentiment echoed by Everton manager David Moyes, who commented on the incident at full-time.
The Scot insisted that he’d ‘seen some given’, though clearly the officials disagreed.
Referee Samuel Barrott missed the foul in real time, while VAR decided not to intervene.
Barrott was not even sent to the monitor to see a replay of the incident, as he was with O’Brien’s handball.
Once again, the only consistent aspect of VAR is its inconsistency. It was a big ask to get something out of the game with three key players missing.
However, when clear and obvious mistakes are not corrected by VAR, what chance have you got?