CONFUSION reigned after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored just before half-time in Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa.
Referee Craig Pawson appeared to blow his whistle for half-time before being told to check the VAR monitor for a possible penalty.
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Play was brought back by Pawson after Alexandre Lacazette was brought down by Matt Targett with four seconds of stoppage time remaining.
After consulting the monitor, Pawson eventually gave a spot-kick – which was first saved by Emi Martinez before Aubameyang slotted in the rebound.
That caused even more confusion because if Pawson had blown for the break, the game should have been called dead as soon as Martinez saved the ball.
But SunSport have since been advised that Pawson blew for a break in play in order to look at the challenge, NOT for half-time.
So when Martinez saved Aubameyang’s penalty, the Arsenal striker still had time on the board and the goal was fine to stand.
However, that message had clearly not reached Dean Smith by the time he sat down for his press conference.
The seething Aston Villa manager said: “It is a lower contact tackle. Grey areas, does he touch the ball first or his leg first?
“I thought they were the ones we were not going to VAR for. I am even wondering why he is allowed to put the rebound in.
“My understanding was he is walking off the pitch if he does not go to VAR, they cant give me any clarity on that.”
Arsenal dominated the first half and were good value for their two-goal lead.
Thomas Partey scored his first Arsenal goal midway through the half, flicking home Emile Smith Rowe’s near-post corner.
And then the penalty incident doubled Arsenal’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
In the early stages of the game Partey had his first chance of the match when he volleyed a Bukayo Saka cross off the bar.
And then Saka should have had a goal himself when Nuno Tavares found him unmarked inside the box, only for the England international to be denied by the legs of Martinez.
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Emile Smith Rowe made it three in the second half, before Jacob Ramsey pulled a consolation back for Dean Smith’s men.
Arsenal have still not lost a game since they were beaten 5-0 by Manchester City at the end of August.
They have also moved into the top half of the table following their victory over Villa, leaping up to ninth ahead of this weekend’s action.
