Arsenal given new handball VAR verdict after Bournemouth controversy - 'if you have to watch it'

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained why he believes VAR were right to not disallow Evanilson's goal for Bournemouth against Arsenal. The Brazil international netted the winner at Emirates Stadium after Declan Rice saw his opener cancelled out by Dean Huijsen.

The Gunners came into the clash four days on from losing their Champions League semi-final first leg to Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium. With Mikel Arteta wanting to build momentum before a huge knockout game in the French capital, he opted for minimal changes.

That saw Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Rice all start "At the moment, no [not confident he will return against PSG], because he wasn't able to play here and we play in four days,"

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With concern surrounding the Dutchmen and Arsenal losing again, preparation for the second leg perhaps could not have gone much worse. However,

Following a flick on at the front post, he bundled the ball past David Raya with it unclear whether his hip or elbow got the final touch. Referee Jarred Gillett gave the goal and though there was a lengthy VAR check from Michael Salisbury, the official leading the technology at Stockley Park, the decision was not overturned.

" – 75’ The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with no conclusive evidence that Evanilson handled the ball before scoring," a Premier League statement subsequently read.

Unsurprisingly, "I've just seen a few images and it looked very different to the decision, but they made that decision," he said. Despite the grievances of the Arsenal boss and those watching in north London, Gallagher is of the belief that the outcome was correct.

"I was watching and I would have [given it]," he admitted to Sky Sports' Ref Watch when asked for his thoughts on the incident. "If you have to watch it that many times and don't think it is handball, give the on-field decision."

Sue Smith, also on the panel, added: "If you can't tell [whether or not it was handball], you can't give it. I've watched numerous times and I can't tell."

Gallagher's comments come . “I have studied the various angles on this goal and the involvement of the goalscorer, Evanilson," he told Football Insider.

"It was right that the goal was checked carefully by the VAR, Michael Salisbury. "There is no conclusive evidence that the ball was handed before it went into the goal. The outcome, therefore, was the correct decision.

“It’s pretty ironic that the goalscorer was wrongly sent off last week and, after an appeal, was allowed to play in this game and scored."