Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was right to rule out Kai Havertz's late goal against Aston Villa for handball, although the Arsenal man was described as ‘unfortunate’.

The Gunners were pegged back from 2-0 up to 2-2 in the second half at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening. Havertz thought he had got what could have been a crucial winner for Arsenal in the 87th minute when he deflected Mikel Merino’s strike into the net.

However, a VAR check showed that the ball had come off the forward’s arm, with the goal being disallowed for handball. The decision meant that Mikel Arteta’s side had to settle for a point in what is a blow to their title hopes at the end of the season.

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Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher has delivered his view on the incident. He concluded that the correct decision was reached due to how the rules are currently written.

“It does strike his hand - there is no doubt about it,” he said. “He is unfortunate because he knows nothing about it but this is the rule. Any goal scored off the arm or hand is going to be disallowed.”

The Premier League explained the decision at the time through their official Match Centre account: “The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field,” it read. “The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz’s arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

Speaking on Match of the Day on Saturday night, pundit Danny Murphy gave his thoughts on the incident. “It was the right decision,” he said.

“Things seem to be going against Arsenal right now, those little decisions. I thought Arsenal were brilliant in some parts of the game but [they] can’t get over the line.”