Everton suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Goodison Park on December 20, 2025. A result that has left the Toffees fuming. Martin Ødegaard‘s first-half strike proved decisive, but the real talking point emerged in the 57th minute when a potential game-changer was overlooked which involved William Saliba.
The Controversial Clash
The incident unfolded with Everton pressing for an equalizer. Forward Thierno Barry latched onto a loose ball inside the Arsenal box, only for defender William Saliba to challenge aggressively. Barry touched the ball first. However, the boot of William Saliba connected squarely with the striker’s standing leg—no contact with the ball. Referee Sam Barrott waved play on, and VAR Michael Salisbury deemed it unworthy of review. Replays showed a clear foul, leaving Goodison Park in uproar and Everton’s momentum shattered.
Everton should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on 20 December, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel.
The Gunners were leading 1-0 when William Saliba and Everton's Thierno Barry clashed inside the area and the panel voted 3:2… pic.twitter.com/GG7X3nFVAz
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 31, 2025
Panel’s Damning Verdict
In a 3-2 decision, the KMI Panel declared Barrott’s call incorrect, emphasizing Saliba’s “careless” challenge as a clear and obvious error warranting intervention. Three members highlighted the lack of ball contact and Barry’s immediate reaction, while two dissented, citing insufficient impact. The panel also voted 3-2 that VAR should have prompted an on-field review, potentially altering the match’s course. This ruling underscores ongoing VAR inconsistencies, with the technology failing to rectify a pivotal oversight.
🚨 The Premier League’s KMI Panel has deemed Everton should have had a penalty for William Saliba’s clash on Thierno Barry, in Arsenal’s win. The panel voted 3-2 that the on-field decision was incorrect and that VAR should have sent referee to the monitor. ❌ [@DaleJohnsonBBC] pic.twitter.com/HmthnzeaB9
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) December 31, 2025
Moyes’ Outrage and Relegation Fears
Everton boss David Moyes didn’t hold back: “I was half-choking last night when I saw the decision given [to Fulham] and ours wasn’t. It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t.” With the Toffes hovering just three points above the drop zone, the denied spot-kick,had it been converted, could have yielded crucial breathing room. Arsenal, meanwhile, march on atop the table, but the shadow of controversy lingers.
VAR’s Lingering Shadow
This episode amplifies calls for VAR reform, especially as the title race intensifies. For Everton, it’s a bitter pill in a survival scrap, while Arsenal fans brace for the “what ifs.” As the Premier League hurtles toward its climax, such panels serve as a stark reminder: in the quest for perfection, even the smallest boot-to-boot contact can tip the scales of justice.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
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