Martin Keown criticises Arsenal star after controversial Everton penalty decision

Martin Keown has questioned Myles Lewis-Skelly’s decision-making after the youngster gave away a crucial penalty in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Everton.

Leandro Trossard powered home an emphatic strike to open the scoring at Goodison Park and the Arsenal forward came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage on the stroke of half-time, only to be denied by Jordan Pickford.

But the Toffees dragged themselves back into the contest as Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have fouled Everton’s Jack Harrison inside the box in the 49th minute.

While replays showed minimal contact between the two before Harrison went to ground, video assistant referee Stuart Attweld upheld Darren England’s initial decision and Iliman Ndiaye made no mistake from 12 yards.

David Raya got down low to stop the hosts taking the lead through Abdoulaye Doucoure late on and the points were shared, meaning Liverpool can move 14 points clear of Arsenal with victory over Fulham on Sunday.

Watching back the penalty incident shortly after the final whistle, ex-Arsenal and Everton defender Keown said he felt there was not enough contact made by Lewis-Skelly to warrant a spot-kick.

‘Initially, Myles Lewis-Skelly doesn’t really get the flight of the ball and he’s trying to get his body in the way,’ Keown said on TNT Sports’ coverage of the match.

‘But I don’t believe there’s enough contact there for a penalty and it’s very soft. I’m not sure where the contact is.

‘I can understand Harrison wants to go down and there’s a tugging match. But is there any real contact?’

While critical of the officiating on show, Keown believes Lewis-Skelly put himself in an unnecessarily awkward position by engaging in a physical battle with Harrison rather than simply running towards the ball.

‘What I would say if I was working with the player: he uses his body brilliantly, it’s one of his strengths,’ he added.

‘But there are occasions where you just have to go towards the ball.

‘That will be one of those where he’ll look back and go, “Do you know what? Maybe I should have just tried to clear it”.

‘But I’m not sure he’s really made the foul there, but once the referee gives it, I don’t think VAR is going against it.’

According to Keown, referee England made several ‘very strange’ decisions across the 90 minutes.

‘The referee was found wanting today, there were some very strange decisions,’ the three-time Premier League winner added.

‘There was a couple of times the goalkeeper was obstructed today and the referee didn’t even see it! Anyway, let’s move on.’

In his post-match interview with beIN Sports, Arteta made his feelings abundantly clear regarding the decision to award Everton a penalty at the start of the second half.

‘We really conceded nothing. We conceded a penalty that, in my opinion, is not a penalty, very clear.

‘We were ahead. Very tough place to come, very physical, very good the way put you in trouble with direct play, with all the long balls from Pickford.

‘And from the situation that comes afterwards, you don’t deal with that constantly very well then it’s very difficult to get that domination and that threat that you need in the game.

But it was very disappointing the way we started the second half and then we concede a goal which is a penalty which, I repeat, in my opinion, is clear.’

Arteta added: ‘I think there is not enough contact and the contact starts outside the box and inside the box, there is nothing.’

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