Expert Reveals Arsenal Should Have Had Penalty in Hull Victory

Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty in their tight 1-0 victory over Hull City, according to BBC Sport’s football issues correspondent Dale Johnson.

Martin Ødegaard’s second-half strike was enough to secure all three points at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal edged past a resilient Hull side. However, Arsenal will still leave feeling aggrieved by a controversial VAR intervention involving Kai Havertz.

The German was pulled back by Hull defender Nobel Mendy inside the penalty area. VAR recommended an on-field review for a potential penalty, and referee Farai Hallam went to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.

After the review, the referee confirmed that Mendy had fouled Havertz, but ruled that the Arsenal forward had been in an offside position.

Fans inside The Emirates initially believed they had been awarded a penalty, with Hallam announcing, ‘After review, there is a holding offence by Blue No.32 on Red No.29,’ Though he waited for the cheers to soften before adding, 'However, Red No.29 is in an offside position, so the final decision will be a free-kick for offside to Hull City.’

The Premier League Match Centre later confirmed on X that VAR had recommended the review for a potential penalty, but that Havertz was in an offside position in the build-up.

Havertz has had a frustrating time with the offside flag this season, as he was caught offside three times against Hull, taking his league total to 14, the most in the Premier League this term.

Refereeing expert, Johnson, however, believes the officials were wrong to not award a spot kick, explaining that being in an offside position is not an offence on its own.

‘That is a very controversial VAR intervention at the Emirates,’ he wrote. ‘A player who is in an offside position only becomes active when they commit an offside offence.

‘Kai Havertz must be “attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball”, otherwise the shirt pull by Nobel Mendy takes precedence. The foul comes before any offside offence.

‘Havertz did not commit an offside offence, and this should have been a spot-kick to Arsenal regardless of the offside.’

Under the Laws of the Game, a player in an offside position is only penalised if they become involved in active play, such as by interfering with play or with an opponent. As Havertz had not yet done so when Mendy’s foul took place, the foul should have been punished first.

The decision ultimately did not cost Arsenal, with Ødegaard’s goal proving enough to secure victory, though the captain protested to the referee both before and after the half-time break.

It was just the second time that Hallam had taken charge of an Arsenal match, having also done so on the final day of the last campaign, before the Gunners lifted the Premier League title at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal now enter the international break at the summit of the Premier League table, and will return to action in two weeks as they travel to Newcastle United.