A game that lacked any real flow ended 1-1 – Leandro Trossard opening the scoring for Arsenal before Everton hit back via Ndiaye’s coolly taken penalty immediately after the break.

But there were question marks as to whether a foul should have been given when Lewis-Skelly and Harrison came together in the box.

The Premier League match centre on X explained:, external “The referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Lewis-Skelly on Harrison was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be sufficient for a penalty and inside the area.”

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think it was a very, very soft penalty.

“Even David Moyes will look at that and agree that the penalty was a soft one.”

The result means Arsenal suffered a potentially fatal blow in their quest for the Premier League crown.

Leaders Liverpool require only 11 points from their remaining eight games – starting with Fulham on Sunday – to guarantee themselves the title.

Arteta said of the title race: “We have no margins – that’s so clear. We have done enough to win the game but the margins are very small.”