EXCLUSIVE: VAR AND REFEREE ERROR 》Arsenal wrongly denied penalty on Mikel Merino v PSG says ex-PGMOL boss

Arsenal should have been given a penalty after Mikel Merino was brought down by PSG midfielder Joao Neves, according to Keith Hackett.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the challenge from the Portuguese midfielder was “careless” and should have resulted in a spot-kick.

There was already animosity between the two clubs building in the days leading up to the game, beginning with Arsenal slashing PSG’s ticketing allocation.

Arsenal were then advised to complain to UEFA when the Parisians also cut their allocation for the return leg in Paris.

When the action finally unfolded, Ousmane Dembele gave PSG an early lead, sweeping an effort past David Raya in the fourth minute.

The visiting side then felt they should have had a penalty when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down by Jurrien Timber, and the Gunners were lucky to escape.

However, the drama continued when Arsenal had a penalty shout of their own just minutes before half-time.

Jurrien Timber brought down Khvicha Khvaratskhelia in the box. [Credit Imago]

Mikel Merino goes down after challenge from Joao Neves

With 37 minutes gone and the home side trailing, Merino, playing back in his more familiar role in central midfield, broke into the box.

The ball was pulled back by the in-form Jakub Kiwior and the Spanish midfielder looked to be in a fantastic position to level the scores.

However, Neves stole ahead of the former Real Sociedad man and poked the ball away, before it was cleared by Willian Pacho.

Arsenal players raised their arms in protest, but referee Slavko Vincic was uninterested, although he did cause some confusion by pointing towards the ball, with some initially thinking he was signalling for a penalty.

But on further review, Neves actually made contact with Merino’s thigh before touching the ball and the lack of a VAR intervention was surprising, with Hackett convinced a key decision had been missed.

Mikel Merino was brought down by Joao Neves.

Keith Hackett analyses Arsenal penalty shout

Having reviewed the footage, former PGMOL chief Hackett gave his assessment of Vincic’s decision exclusively to Football Insider, saying:

“The challenge from the PSG player is careless and despite the great position taken up by the referee there is contact.

“A penalty kick should have been awarded.”

Merino would then go on to score an equaliser for Arsenal, before VAR intervened and disallowed the header for an offside.