Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has hit out at Premier League officials after his side's 2-1 defeat against Manchester City was marred by VAR controversy.
The Gunners had appeals for a first-half penalty waved away by referee Stuart Attwell, who was not told to review his original decision on the pitchside monitor after visiting goalkeeper Ederson brought down Martin Odegaard.
But in the second half, Bernardo Silva was tripped and pulled down by home midfielder Granit Xhaka, leading to Attwell this time being told by VAR to assess his initial call and awarding City a penalty upon watching a replay.
Riyad Mahrez scored and Pep Guardiola 's men levelled the scores before snatching a 93rd-minute winner through Rodri.
Like Arsenal's supporters, Ramsdale was furious after the final whistle and said: "Both [were] penalties.
"I don't know why the ref is told to see one and not the other.
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"[VAR] is there for a reason, go and use it. It is the inconsistency," the 23-year-old fan favourite went on.
"The whole point is to help the game out, in real time it didn't look like one and slow it down on a screen and it is given."
The Gunners were given an explanation for VAR's methodology by former Premier League referee Peter Walton, who said on BT Sport : "First of all, there’s two distinguishing factors on both penalties.
"One was we can all see clear evidence therefore Stuart Atwell was advised to have a look, on the other one it was a subjective forensically analysed decision.
"In terms of the inconsistency, yes there has been inconsistency with VAR previously and a little bit on today’s game, also," Walton added.
"But really when you analyse those decisions, that decision for the Man City penalty probably wouldn’t have been given if Xhaka didn’t pull his shirt.
"The shirt pull is the clear evidence required from the VAR to say to Stuart Atwell that there’s a foul here. What you have to remember of course is that it’s not the VAR making the decision it’s the referee.
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"I don’t think VAR would’ve intervened had Xhaka just put his foot across and Bernardo Silva took the dive. The reason he did interfere is because he can show Stuart Atwell evidence.
"The exaggerated dive is showing the VAR that there’s enough to put him down."
Guardiola had sympathy for the hosts, having guided his own team to their 11th successive top-flight win which put them 11 points clear in first place.
"They were better. Arsenal were better today," the Citizens boss admitted to BT Sport.
"But football happened in that situation and sometimes it comes on our side."
