Arsenal learn new VAR verdict after Aston Villa penalty controversy

Gunners had penalty waved away at Villa Park - but should it have been given?

It has been revealed that Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty against Aston Villa last week.

The Gunners beat the Villans 1-0 at Villa Park on matchday two.

It could have been more, as both the Key Match Incident (KMI) panel and the Premier League have admitted that VAR should have given a penalty to the champions in the final minutes.

Bukayo Saka had put the north Londoners ahead, and in injury time, Bruno Guimares made a marauding run into the box to put himself into a goalscoring position.

He was taken out by Villa defender Ian Maatsen, but both referee Jarred Gillett and VAR James Bell came to the conclusion that it was not a foul and opted not to award a spot kick.

The KMI panel provide an assessment of all major decisions in Premier League games and believe Arsenal should have been given a penalty, with Maatsen sent off for a second bookable offence.

No penalty: Bruno Guimaraes

A statement from the panel read: “The panel felt that a penalty should have been awarded on-field for Maatsen’s reckless challenge on Guimaraes,”

They also felt that VAR should have intervened as the non-penalty awarded was a clear and obvious error.

The panel deemed the challenge was reckless and therefore a second caution should have been awarded.

Understandably, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was not happy with the decision.

The Premier League said in a statement: “One of the Premier League’s football principles is to maintain a high threshold for VAR intervention.

“In this instance, it was deemed that a penalty kick should have been awarded on-field following a reckless challenge, and that the threshold for VAR intervention had been met.

“As a result, the VAR should have intervened to recommend an on-field review for a clear and obvious error.”