Everton boss David Moyes has insisted that the Blues could’ve had a penalty during yesterday’s defeat.
The Toffees lost 1-0 to Mikel Arteta’s side, with a spot kick the deciding factor in the game.
Indeed, in a moment of madness, Jake O’Brien needlessly handled the ball from a Declan Rice corner.
The incident occurred just moments after a VAR check ruled out a penalty on an alleged O’Brien push on Viktor Gyokeres.
Awarding a penalty in that case would’ve been harsh. However, the Irishman certainly got away with one.
Bafflingly, he then handled the ball from the subsequent corner, leaving the officials with little choice.
Gyokeres, with just one goal in his last 10 league games, dispatched the penalty to give Arsenal the lead.
It was an act of generosity that cost Everton the game. However, the Blues could’ve also been awarded a spot kick.
Indeed, William Saliba kicked through the back of Thierno Barry’s boot, though it was not deemed to be sufficient contact for an infringement.
Reflecting on the decision, Moyes said: “I think we’ve seen seen some given for being kicked through somebody’s foot or back. It actually is on his achilles, I think.
“In the action there wasn’t anything really happening, I think Saliba went in and Thierno got his foot in front of him and kicked the ball away and the boy kicked through [Barry].
“But I think you would all agree, it probably could have been given to us. For the VAR not to send him [referee Sam Barrott] to the screen must have meant they didn’t think it was enough [for a penalty] in the studio.”
TOFFEES SHOULD HAVE HAD A PEN, BUT LACK OF DEPTH WAS GLARINGLY APPARENT
Everton felt the absence of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gueye in midfield. Iliman Ndiaye was also sorely missed, with the Toffees lacking creativity.
It was a match when fringe players failed to seize an opportunity. Charley Alcaraz was poor, while Dwight McNeil was barely in the game.
Taking on the league leaders with one key player missing would’ve been a big ask. With three notable absentees, the task was monumental.
Despite two consecutive defeats, the Blues go into Christmas still in the top half of the table.
Our run of fixtures into the New Year are much more winnable, on paper at least.
