Mikel Arteta gives verdict on ‘very clear’ Arsenal penalty decision in Premier League clash with Everton

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Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw in their final trip to Goodison Park.

Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal the lead in the first half following some good play from Raheem Sterling and the Gunners looked comfortable in the game.

Arsenal fans reacted to Mikel Arteta’s selection as the Spaniard made five changes ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Madrid but his replacements looked sharp in the first half.

The momentum switched just after half time as Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have foul Jack Harrison in the penalty area. Mark Clattenburg disagreed with the Arsenal penalty decision.

READ MORE: Five things learned from Arsenal’s clash with Everton as Jakub Kiwior impresses whilst a Hale End star struggles

Mikel Arteta provides verdict on ‘very clear’ penalty decision

Speaking to beIN Sports after Arsenal’s draw with Everton, Arteta was asked for his view on the dubious penalty decision given against Lewis-Skelly.

Arteta stated: “We conceded a penalty that in my opinion was not a penalty, very clear.”

When pressed further as to his reason why he thought it was not a penalty, the Gunners boss explained that he didn’t believe there was enough contact to make Harrison go down.

Arteta explained: “Because I think there is not enough contact and the contact starts outside and inside the box there is nothing, if that contact inside the box then O’Brien has to be off.”

Myles Lewis-Skelly struggled against Everton

Despite the penalty call, it was a tough afternoon for Arsenal’s young defender as he was troubled by the tenacity of Everton’s press.

It was the first time playing in the Goodison Park atmosphere for Lewis-Skelly and he was dispossessed in dangerous areas on a number of occasions in the first half in particular.

In the incident that led to the penalty, Lewis-Skelly was caught ball watching from a long goal kick and didn’t know that Harrison was behind him as he allowed the ball to bounce.

The Hale End star will learn quickly from the experience as he is sure to face another ferocious and intense atmosphere when the Gunners travel to the Bernabeu in the second leg.