Kai Havertz’s late goal was controversially allowed to stand against Everton despite a VAR check

Referee Michael Oliver overruled the VAR to allow Arsenal’s late winner against Everton in controversial circumstances.

Kai Havertz prodded his side into a lead minutes before the end of a close-fought encounter in north London but the away side questioned whether the goal should stand after it hit the arm of Gabriel Jesus in the build-up.

Oliver did get called to the pitchside monitor to review his decision to allow play to continue but, in a rare move since the introduction of VAR to the Premier League, decided against overturning the original call.

That did not go unnoticed by Sean Dyche, who has often complained about the inevitability of decisions being changed once the on-field official is sent to the screen. Referring to Oliver breaking the trend at the Emirates, the Blues boss said: “Funny how it is in a title race and it goes the other way.”

Everton were level at 1-1 as the game approached stoppage time when Ashley Young’s stray ball was intercepted by the arm of Jesus. The Arsenal striker broke and played in Martin Odegaard, whose shot was glanced wide of goal by Jordan Pickford but into the path of Havertz, who applied the finish from yards out.

The goal sparked protest from Pickford and his teammates and looked set to be overruled when VAR intervened. The ECHO understands Oliver was called to the monitor to review whether Jesus had deliberately handled, but was content with his original call. Dyche, on the other hand, was left laughing in disbelief on the touchline.

Asked for his thoughts on the decision after the match, he said: “We are all worried about handball, we are not quite sure where it lives. That for me is a really obvious one, they go over to the monitor and – funny how it is in a title race and it goes the other way… At the end of the day we are all worried about handball, we are not sure where it lives. For me that is a difficult one to argue against. It’s handball dead into his path, he runs through and they score from it. That one for me has got to be given.”