Premier League release statement on huge Arsenal v Aston Villa controversy

Arsenal's late disallowed goal against Aston Villa on Saturday was initially given on-field before VAR's intervention, the Premier League have confirmed.

The Premier League Match Centre posted on X (18 January) with a statement to confirm that while Mikel Merino's half-volley had been given as a goal, VAR recommended that it be disallowed in their 2-2 draw.

Merino's strike deflected off Kai Havertz's slightly outstretched arm to wrong-foot Emiliano Martinez and find the net, but Arsenal's celebrations were quickly quashed by the referee ruling it out soon after.

The Premier League's statement said: "The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field.

"The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz's arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed."

Arsenal v Aston Villa almost turns on late controversy

Had Merino's – or had it been given, Havertz's – goal stood in the 89th minute of a pulsating clash at the Emirates, Villa players, coaches and fans would have rightly been absolutely incensed with the decision.

While Havertz obviously didn't affect the path of Merino's shot intentionally, the ball striking his forearm on its way into the net means that VAR's rapid reassessment of the goal was spot on.

Villa, having fought back from 2-0 to make it 2-2 barely 13 minutes after Arsenal had doubled their lead, would have felt crestfallen, and arguably cheated, had they lost to a goal in such controversial fashion.

There's no doubt that the hosts had the better of the contest for large periods, but that still wouldn't have justified Arsenal winning the game with a goal which had blatantly struck a hand in the process.

Villa came away from North London with a deserved point as a result, and regardless of Arsenal's protests over the decision, they'll soon see that VAR got it 100 per cent correct.

In other Aston Villa news, a swap deal has been proposed between the Villans and a club sporting director Monchi knows well.

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