Arteta FUMES at controversial penalty as Gunners' title hopes crumble after draw

An upset Mikel Arteta fumed that a controversial second-half Everton penalty conceded by Myles Lewis-Skelly had unjustly hurt Arsenal’s crumbling title hopes.

The 1-1 draw leaves Liverpool requiring only 11 points from their remaining eight games – starting with Fulham today — 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 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.

Arteta 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.

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

When asked about Liverpool’s 11 point lead in the table, Arteta replied: ‘Credit to Liverpool for winning the way they are winning their football matches. Talking about a reflection of what happened today and what was really relevant for the score, there is no question apart from that (penalty) they had nothing.

‘But obviously that (penalty) changes completely the momentum and the result.’

David Moyes was left lauding his side’s display which edges Everton closer to guaranteeing their safety from relegation.

‘The players here have great resilience,’ he said.

‘They stick at it, they are very committed. We were all disappointed and angry at half-time because we started slowly and sluggishly and made mistake. Tactically, we made a change to how we were going to press Arsenal. We got a bit better in the second half and were able to get a point out of it.’

On whether yesterday’s point means the Toffees, who are now on 35 points, are safe from relegation, Moyes added: ‘ Mathematically, we're not safe yet but I'm hoping to take a visit to the (new) stadium this week, which would indicate that I think we're pretty close.

‘I want us to keep getting ready for Premier League football. I know I've got a bit to do and hope I'm not speaking too soon.’