Jamie Carragher gives his verdict on Everton’s controversial penalty against Arsenal – which left Gunners title hopes in tatters after 1-1 draw

Jamie Carragher weighed in on the controversial penalty Everton received against Arsenal in their 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The result left Liverpool requiring only 11 points from their remaining eight games – starting with Fulham on Sunday – to guarantee themselves the Premier League title.

Leandro Trossard put the Gunners ahead on 34 minutes before Everton equalised a minute into the second half through Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty, which was conceded by Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 18-year-old drew the attention of referee Darren England after hauling down Jack Harrison inside the area a minute into the second half.

Replays showed both men had their hands gripped to each other’s shirt, but Lewis-Skelly was deemed to have breached the line as England awarded a penalty. The call was checked by the VAR Stuart Attwell who stayed with the call.

However, Carragher argued that there was not enough in the challenge for it to be given as a penalty, labelling the decision ‘really soft’.

Jack Harrison was felled in the box after some light contact from Myles Lewis-Skelly

Iliman Ndiaye scored the penalty and Everton went on to hold Arsenal to a frustrating 1-1 draw

The Liverpool legend said: ‘If it was a penalty, it was very,very soft. And I’m with Mikel Arteta – I didn’t think it was a penalty.

‘When I first saw it, I thought it was a penalty, and I can understand the referee giving it in some ways because it was a bit of a mess from Arsenal. 

‘I think Kiwior leaves the ball to bounce, Lewis-Skelly gets himself caught up with Harrison and it looks like a bit of a tangle. So I could understand the referee giving it but when you look at it, it looks really soft.

‘And in some ways, those type of decisions is almost what’s wrong with VAR. You look at it and say: “It’s not a penalty but it’s not an absolute howler.” Then VAR don’t get involved when, really, it’s just not a penalty. 

‘And that’s where sometimes I would like VAR to say it’s not about the referee making a horrendous decision.

‘It’s just not a penalty, you make that decision and you move on.’

Mikel Arteta was left incensed by the decision, and revealed that he watched it 15 times and still saw no reason for a penalty to be given.

The Arsenal boss said: ‘The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game. I’m here to give my opinion, and after seeing it 15 times there is no way in my opinion is that a penalty.

Mikel Arteta fumed at the dubious decision and insisted there was ‘no way’ it was a penalty

‘Because if it is then (Jake) O’Brien has to be out and Everton have to play with 10 men.’

Arsenal are all but out of the title race following their draw with Everton. They sit 11 points off Liverpool with seven games to go, and their only hope of silverware lies in the Champions League. 

Arteta’s men host Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.

If the Gunners make it past the Spanish giants, they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa in the semi-finals.