Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lambasts decision to award Everton penalty in draw

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sharply criticized the controversial penalty awarded to Everton during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, a result that further dampened his side's Premier League title aspirations.

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    With the Gunners aiming to claw their way back into the title race, the match took a frustrating turn when Iliman Ndiaye converted a second-half penalty to cancel out Leandro Trossard's early goal for Arsenal. The penalty came after referee Darren England judged that Myles Lewis-Skelly had fouled Jack Harrison in the box, with VAR, overseen by Stuart Atwell, backing the on-field call.

    However, Arteta was left fuming, arguing that the contact appeared minimal when viewed in replays. "I've watched it 15 times and I firmly believe there's no way that's a penalty," Arteta fumed after the game. "If that's a penalty, then we should have had one against O'Brien, and Everton would be playing with 10 men. It's pretty clear."

    With Liverpool holding a commanding 11-point lead at the top of the table, Arsenal's title hopes are increasingly slim, and Arteta now faces the challenge of lifting his players ahead of their high-stakes Champions League quarterfinal clash with Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday.

    Arteta remained positive about the upcoming fixture, saying, "It's one of the most exciting games in football - the Champions League against the dominant team of the last two decades. We're excited for the challenge."

    Meanwhile, Everton's point helped them climb to 14th in the Premier League, easing some of their relegation fears, with a 12-point cushion from the drop zone. Manager David Moyes expressed his satisfaction with the result despite Everton's slow start to the game. "We weren't great early on, but we showed more in the second half to get back into the game. It's been a tough week, facing the league's top two teams, but I think we've made a strong case," Moyes said.

    On Everton's survival, Moyes was cautiously optimistic. "We're not safe yet, but I'm hopeful we're close. I plan to visit the new stadium this week, which I see as a good sign. There's still work to be done, but we're focused on securing our place in the Premier League next season."

    With both teams moving in different directions, Arsenal's pursuit of silverware faces another setback, while Everton's push for survival continues.