Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘was RIGHTLY allowed to score penalty rebound against Aston Villa’

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘was RIGHTLY allowed to score penalty rebound against Aston Villa’ despite referee appearing to blow for half-time before checking VAR monitor

  • Arsenal were 1-0 up against Aston Villa when Lacazette was felled in the box 
  • Craig Pawson seemed to have already blown for half-time, but checked VAR
  • Aubameyang scored the rebound but if half-time was called, it shouldn’t count
  • Villa were not unfairly treated though, as the VAR rules back Pawson’s decision 


Aston Villa can have no complaints over their 3-1 beating from Arsenal on Friday, despite a moment of VAR confusion after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s spot-kick. 

The Gunners were already 1-0 ahead thanks to Thomas Partey’s header when Alexandre Lacazette was chopped down by Matt Targett with less than five seconds left in the first-half.  

Play continued, Craig Pawson blew his whistle and the 22 men already had eyes on the dressing room – but the referee instead ran to the VAR monitor, before pointing to the spot. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a controversial penalty against Aston Villa on Friday 

Alexandre Lacazette was brought down by Matt Targett inside the area seconds from half-time

Alexandre Lacazette was brought down by Matt Targett inside the area seconds from half-time

Craig Pawson appeared to have called the break, but instead went to check the VAR monitor

Craig Pawson appeared to have called the break, but instead went to check the VAR monitor 

Former Gunners stopper Emi Martinez sharply scrambled to his right and parried Aubameyang’s initial effort, but the Argentine could only watch as the rebound was coolly swept in.  

Villa fans had questions though, with @theretroboot writing on Twitter: ‘Hold on… the ref blew for half-time before the penalty, so how was Aubameyang given the extra time to finish the rebound?’    

Unfortunately for Villa fans, Aubameyang’s strike was solid. Despite the players’ confusion, Pawson blew his whistle to check the VAR monitor, not for half-time, according to the Sun.  

Emile Smith-Rowe added a third in the second-half to complete a confidence boosting night in north London, though Dean Smith wasn’t satisfied with the referee’s decision post-match. 

Aubameyang swept home the rebound, with Villa fans questioned why he was allowed to

Aubameyang swept home the rebound, with Villa fans questioned why he was allowed to 

Dean Smith fumed but the penalty was legitimate as Pawson had only paused the game

Dean Smith fumed but the penalty was legitimate as Pawson had only paused the game

The Villa boss said: ‘It is a lower contact tackle. Grey areas, does he touch the ball first or his leg first?’

‘I thought they were the ones we were not going to VAR for. I am even wondering why he is allowed to put the rebound in.

‘My understanding was he is walking off the pitch if he does not go to VAR, they cant give me any clarity on that.’

The Gunners made it four victories in six Premier League games on Friday, now speeding away from the scene of their implosion in the opening games.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk