Arsenal will be frustrated to learn officials did indeed make a mistake which handed Manchester City a Premier League title boost in draw with Everton
10:53, 15 May 2026Updated 10:59, 15 May 2026
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva has since been confirmed to have been wrongly adjudged not to have made a foul against Everton in a blow to Arsenal
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Manchester City's Bernardo Silva has since been confirmed to have been wrongly adjudged not to have made a foul against Everton in a blow to Arsenal(Image: Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Arsenal have been dealt a frustrating VAR answer, which vindicates many of their supporters' claims that Manchester City were fortunate to come away with a point from Everton. In what was a crazy match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Man City came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 and keep themselves in touching distance of the Gunners.
However, it has since emerged that City would likely never have got back into the game at all had the correct decision been made with the scores at 3-2. The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel (PLKMIP) has confirmed three more referee errors, bringing the total to 23 for the season.
The BBC reports one such decision was not to award Everton a penalty after Bernardo Silva brought down Merlin Rohl in the box from a Toffees corner. David Moyes was fuming with the lack of a penalty call being made post-match.
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"If that doesn't get given as a penalty, then it's an absolute free-for-all from now on," Moyes said after the game.
All five members of the panel have since agreed with Moyes’ assessment, saying: “There is a clear, sustained holding offence which continues as the corner is taken and the ball comes into play".
From Arsenal's point of view, a City defeat rather than a draw could have a potentially massive impact on the title race. It means that Arsenal cannot afford to drop any points in their last two games; rather, had Everton won, were the Gunners to have drawn either game, and won the other, City still would not have been able to catch them.
Arteta has been outspoken on some decisions recently. His words on Abdukodir Khusanov’s alleged foul on Kai Havertz in the defeat at City after Viktor Gyokeres was fouled by Nick Pope in what could have been argued was a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO).
“It’s a clear red card,” Arteta said on the Gyokeres incident. “I’ve watched it 10 times. If you have ever played football, it is a red card.
“It’s the second time in two games because I guess Manchester City, when Kai Havertz goes through, Khusanov fouls him, 1-1, the title is there … it is a red card, guys. So these are the margins as well, and hopefully that’s going to change.
“I’m here to give my opinion and somebody that has been in the game for a long time … you talk to any of the players, because the trajectory of where the ball is, there’s no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, it’s a red card.
“I’m saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments when everything is at stake, we need everything to go our way, and it hasn’t. I’m not putting any excuses, I’m the first one to understand. I didn’t talk about it when we lost the game [at City]. I’m doing it [now] when we won. It’s a red card today. It’s a red card in Manchester, and the world is different. That’s it.”
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However, neither of these incidents has been retrospectively commented on by the PLKMIP. But in any case, Arteta will have reason to be frustrated that another of the 23 mistakes made by officials this season could prove costly for Arsenal.
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