Arsenal: Everton penalty award was wrong as Myles Lewis-Skelly foul was outside the area, says former referee | OneFootball

Not for the first time this season, the young defender was on the wrong end of a refereeing decision

Former referees' chief Dermot Gallagher believes Everton should not have been awarded a penalty as Arsenal were held to a damaging 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged by referee Darren England to have fouled James Harrison during the opening stages of the second half, and Iliman Ndiaye duly fired home the spot kick as the Toffees earned a point.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said after the game that the incident was "never a penalty", adding: “After seeing it 15 times there's no way."

The result left Arsenal 11 points behind title favourites Liverpool, only to see the Reds fall to a shock loss at Fulham the following day.

Sky Sports News

Gallagher agrees with Arteta, telling Sky Sports News: "I think if you're gonna give the forward a foul, I think the more foul occurs outside the area. It is a foul, but he lets go of him [outside the area].

"I don't think it's a penalty."

Sue Smith added: "I think it's soft, but what I do think is he does get brought down. He does fall onto him, he does bring him down in the area, so that's never gonna get overturned [by VAR].

"If it was against me, I'd probably be furious, but I think at the same time, you can see why the referee has given it and you can see why VR didn't overturn it because he does connect with him and stop him from carrying on.

Gallagher added: "We talk about 50-50, but if the referee has given that on field then it's never going to be overturned. That that's an absolute certainty."