Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has reacted to the penalty awarded against Arsenal in their Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.
He admitted that it was a soft one, adding that the contact even started outside the box.
Arsenal's youngster, Myles Lewis-Skelly was deemed to have brought down Jack Harrison in the box in the 49th minute of the game.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Dean said that it was not wrong to give Everton a penalty but added that the decision could have gone either way.
He said, “There’s a bit of contact outside and there’s a little bit of contact inside. I think it’s a soft one. It’s probably not wrong, but it’s a soft one.”;
Earlier, former Premier League player Michael Dawson had described the call as a wrong one.
He claimed that there was no contact inside the box, saying, “I don’t know why Lewis-Skelly doesn’t go to attack it... Harrison gets the wrong side of him. I think this is awfully soft, but it’s gone to VAR...
“I can see why it was given in real time. But watching it again, there’s hardly a touch.”;
The penalty was converted by Iliman Ndiaye to make it 1-1 against the Gunners, who took the lead via Leandro Trossard in the first half.
