CONFUSION reigned after Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring just before half-time.

Before being told to check the VAR monitor for a possible penalty, referee Craig Pawson appeared to blow his half-time whistle.

Martinez saved Aubameyang’s penalty kick.
Martinez saved Aubameyang’s penalty kick.
Credit: Environmental Protection Agency
When the ball kindly bounced back to him, he tucked the rebound away.
2 When the ball kindly bounced back to him, he tucked the rebound away.
With four seconds of stoppage time remaining, Pawson brought play back after Alexandre Lacazette was brought down by Matt Targett.

Pawson eventually gave a spot-kick after consulting the monitor, which was saved by Emi Martinez before Aubameyang slotted in the rebound.

This added to the confusion because the game should have been called dead as soon as Martinez saved the ball if Pawson had blown for the break.

However, SunSport has been informed that Pawson blew for a timeout in order to assess the challenge, not for half-time.

As a result, when Martinez saved Aubameyang’s penalty, the Arsenal striker still had time on the clock and the goal could be kept.

By the time Dean Smith sat down for his press conference, however, it was clear that the message had not reached him.

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“It’s a lower contact tackle,” the enraged Aston Villa manager explained. Does he touch the ball first or his leg first in the grey areas?

“I was under the impression they were the ones we weren’t going to VAR for.” I’m even perplexed as to why he’s allowed to use the rebound.

“From what I understand, if he doesn’t go to VAR, he’ll be escorted off the field; they can’t give me any clarity on that.”

The first half was dominated by Arsenal, who deserved their two-goal lead.

Midway through the half, Thomas Partey scored his first Arsenal goal, flicking home Emile Smith Rowe’s near-post corner.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, the penalty incident increased Arsenal’s lead.

Partey had his first chance of the game when he volleyed a Bukayo Saka cross over the bar in the first half.

Then Saka should have scored when Nuno Tavares found him unmarked inside the area, only for the England international to be stopped by Martinez’s legs.

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Smith, Emile In the second half, Rowe made it three, before Dean Smith’s men got a consolation goal from Jacob Ramsey.

Since being thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City at the end of August, Arsenal has not lost a game.

Following their win over Villa, they have also climbed into the top half of the table, moving up to eighth ahead of the weekend’s action.