Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that Arsenal should have been given a penalty against Everton for a foul on Kai Havertz. In the first half, the Germany international broke into the box and appeared to be upended by Michael Keane, however referee Andy Madley waved appeals away.

Gallagher has since offered his thoughts on the controversial incident and made it clear he believes a mistake was made. He said on Sky Sports Ref Watch: "I thought it was a penalty. That's what I was taught as a boy. Put the ball there and step across, he's [Keane] out of the game.

Jay Bothroyd added: "The part of this I do not understand is the referee has the best view of this, he is literally looking down the line of this. There is no excuse he can't see that and say there is contact, he stepped on him, that is the reason he has gone down.

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"I do not even know why this needs to go to VAR, the referee should have made that decision himself and stuck by it."

Thankfully for Arsenal, that decision did not impact the final result with late goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman sealing a 2-0 win.

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Had Mikel Arteta's side not secured all three points, Jamie Redknapp would have likely been seething givenhis brutal verdict on the officials' decision not to give a spot-kick.

He said on Sky Sports: "Watch as he goes past him, watch his left foot. It's so clear. How on earth have VAR took three seconds to say there's no penalty?

"It's a horrendous decision. It's a penalty, it should be overturned. You're stepping across to use your body, when he's in front you've got to get out of his way. You sound like VAR now (is he already going down?)

"The fact it took such a short amount of time, we see VAR decisions and everyone at home see it's not a penalty or a bad decision taking five or 10 minutes. That, they've taken three seconds, it's an absolute disgrace."

There were a few other controversial decisions in the clash with William Saliba at the centre of two. The first was for a potential foul on Beto, which left him in pain on the floor, though Gallagher stated he did not think there was enough contact.

Saliba himself later received treatment for a possible head injury. The Frenchman was seen to by physios on the sidelines, but the game could not continue as his boot was still on the pitch, which left David Moyes fuming.

On the talking point, Gallagher stated: "The ref can't restart the game when his leg is like that. You are almost at the mercy of the physio, 'can you move him off the pitch?' The answer is going to be a big fat no. 'I can't move him, I have to test him'.

Bothroyd added: "Dark arts definitely. Football is a game where you have to make the most of the rules. Until the rules changes, people are going to take advantage."