Arsenal given new penalty verdict after Everton controversy - 'I don’t think it’s difficult'

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Pundit and former Premier League star Shay Given was left baffled by the decision to deny Everton a penalty against Arsenal . Gunners defender William Saliba caught Everton striker Thierno Barry as he attempted to clear the ball, but the challenge wasn't determined to be enough for referee Sam Barrott to point to the spot .

"The referee’s call of no penalty to Everton was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact from Saliba on Barry wasn’t sufficient for a penalty," the Premier League Match Centre account posted on social media. Given, however, saw things rather differently.

“I think there’s a lot more than significant contact in this, I’m really strong on this here," former Ireland keeper Given said on Match of the Day . "People will argue it’s not a penalty but Barry gets the ball before Saliba and for me it’s a clear penalty.

"I maybe don’t understand the laws of the game any more but this is a clear penalty. Barry gets the ball, Saliba kicks through the back of his foot, and for me there’s plenty of significance in that. "

He added: "I don’t think it’s an actual difficult decision, I really don’t. Sam Barrott, the referee, said no, but I do believe the VAR should have said to Sam ‘At least come and have a look at this’. For me that’s a penalty all day long."

At the time of the contentious call, Arsenal led 1-0 through a penalty of their own. Jake O'Brien handled in the Everton box and Viktor Gyokeres stepped up to score what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Arsenal's victory saw them reclaim top spot after rivals Manchester City beat West Ham earlier on Saturday. Everton's defeat left them 10th at the end of Saturday's action, and manager David Moyes was none too happy after his team were denied a chance to equalise from 12 yards - with Barry also having an earlier appeal waved away after a challenge from Martin Zubimendi.

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“I’d like to [tell you about the discussion with the referee] but I’d probably be fined. You need to find a way so we can talk about the referees or don’t bother asking me," Moyes told Sky Sports after his team's loss.

"A lot of things didn’t quite suit and go our way. There were quite a few people going down and the referee was blowing up for them. It’s a different football club here. We play tough and we expect the referee’s to do the same."

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