VAR is our true enemy’: VAR release Audio footage today stating why the Kai Havertz goal wasn’t an handball – Arsenal board set to take charge against England FA before tomorrow
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has begrudgingly accepted the decision not to award him a penalty in the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday despite insisting he was touched.
The north Londoners suffered just their second defeat of the Premier League campaign at Villa Park, with John McGinn’s goal after only seven minutes proving decisive.
Arsenal dominated the contest for large spells, particularly either side of half-time, and had a number of opportunities to net an equaliser but were wasteful in front of goal.
The Gunners also felt they were on the receiving end of a couple of controversial refereeing decisions, with a penalty shout on Jesus waved away before Kai Havertz saw an effort ruled out for handball.
Douglas Luiz appeared to make contact with his compatriot, flicking the back of Jesus’ calf as he controlled the ball in the area, but both on-field referee Jarred Gillett and the VAR felt the contact was not significant enough to award a spot-kick.
Manager Mikel Arteta did not appear to agree, saying both decisions that went against his side were ‘clear and obvious’, but Jesus was a little more diplomatic.
Speaking to Premier League Productions afterwards, he said: ‘I felt a touch but I don’t know the rules so probably for them it’s no penalty.
‘I cant do nothing, I felt someone touch me and anyway it’s their decision.
‘I don’t know if the goal is clear handball. We don’t know we just have to accept it and focus to go again next game and then maybe we can have some better decisions.’
On his side’s performance at Villa Park, he added: ‘Well I feel we played better than the last game [a 4-3 victory against Luton Town].
‘I think we controlled the game. I think we conceded the goal early and then the game maybe goes another way.
‘We played good. They have a good team, good players, play amazing you can see it. I think we could win the game but now we focus on the next game.’
The result leaves Arsenal in second place in the Premier League table, with Liverpool having climbed above them after beating 10-man Crystal Palace, and the two sides face off at Anfield in two weeks’ time.
