VAR storm at Hill Dickinson as Arsenal edge Everton to sit top for Christmas
Arsenal got the job done on Merseyside, but blimey did they ride their luck at times. A 1-0 victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium puts the Gunners top of the pile for Christmas, two points clear of Manchester City — yet the talking point was a second-half non-call that had the home crowd roaring for justice.
Arsenal strike first from the spot
The visitors were gifted the perfect start when Jake O’Brien handled from a corner, leaving the referee with little option but to award a penalty. Viktor Gyökeres, cool as you like, buried from 12 yards past Jordan Pickford. From there, Mikel Arteta’s side managed the moments, even if the performance won’t make many highlight reels.
The flashpoint that ignited the ground
Everton’s fury centred on a second-half incident with the ball bobbling in the Arsenal box. William Saliba swung to clear, caught Thierno Barry’s raised leg instead, and the forward hit the deck. Players appealed, the stands erupted — but the referee waved play on. After a VAR check, the on-field decision stood, and confusion reigned among the blue half of the stadium.
League stance: contact judged below the threshold
Post-match, the Premier League clarified via its Match Centre on X that the contact between Saliba and Barry was deemed insufficient for a penalty, so VAR backed the referee. In other words, not enough to overturn the original call. You can argue it both ways — some officials give those, some don’t — but the message here was about the level of contact and the “clear and obvious” bar.
Moyes unimpressed with the whistle
David Moyes made his feelings plain at full-time, exchanging firm words with referee Sam Barrott. On broadcast duty he kept his powder dry to avoid a fine, but the gist was clear: he felt the big calls didn’t fall for Everton and that the game became too stop-start. On the disputed incident, he simply didn’t buy the idea that the contact was trivial.
Arsenal top at Christmas… with caveats
Result-wise, it’s exactly what Arsenal wanted. They’ll be top on December 25, a position that often signals a serious title tilt. Performance-wise, there’ll be a few raised eyebrows — even some Gunners supporters grumbled about one player’s display despite the win — but elite sides bank points on difficult days. That’s the hallmark of contenders.
Big calls, fine margins
Whichever way you slice it, this came down to officiating judgement and Arsenal’s early ruthlessness from the spot. On another day, with another referee, Everton might have had their chance from 12 yards. As the fixture list tightens, expect more debates about thresholds, force, and “clear and obvious” interventions. If you’re weighing up form and fixtures, our guide to the best betting sites is a handy companion — and remember, in games like this, fine margins decide everything.
