Paul Merson and Mike Dean stunned by Everton v Arsenal controversy live on Sky Sports
Paul Merson and Mike Dean were left flabbergasted that Arsenal’s winner against Everton on Sunday (19 May) was allowed to stand.
Kai Havertz’s netted late on to give the Gunners a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, although the three points was not enough to lift the Premier League title as Manchester City defeated West Ham 3-1.
However, former Arsenal forward Merson and ex-Premier League referee Dean could not believe that a handball was not awarded against Gabriel Jesus with Michael Oliver not swayed by being asked to go over to the screen by the VAR.
“The ball comes in, as it comes in he goes like that with his arm, he goes and has a look and my god, can you believe it?” Merson asked on Sky Sports Soccial Special (19 May, 17:54).
Dean replied: “No. We had one last week at Bournemouth where someone hand balled it, two more passes and the balls in the back of the net, he was sent to the screen to see if it was a subjective handball or not, the goal then gets disallowed.
“This is an exact carbon copy where he’s knocked it past him, there’s one pass and it’s in the back of the net, I think it should be chalked off.”
Gabriel Jesus scores controversial Arsenal winner versus Everton
On another day, Everton supporters might have been more up in arms about this goal being allowed to stand because it looked for all the world like Oliver was bound to overrule it once being asked to go to the VAR monitor.
Thankfully, with Everton already assured of their place in the Premier League next campaign, it did not too much damage but it will still rankle that the Toffees were the subject of another poor decision being made against them.
This defeat signals the end of another difficult campaign off the pitch, with points deductions, financial woes, and takeover talk dominating the talking points at Goodison Park.
On the pitch, Dean Dyche managed to steer his side to safety with Everton showing the sort of grit and determination they really needed to make sure they remained a top-flight team.
Hopefully some more stability can arrive off the pitch in the close-season and the club can start to look forward on and off the pitch.
In other Everton news, Merson was wowed by what one Toffees star did versus the Gunners.
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