Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins offered up his sympathy to Arsenal after Kai Havertz's late winner was disallowed by VAR for handball.

The 29-year-old admitted that the Midlands club were, perhaps, on the right side of a favourable decision.

The Gunners thought they had retaken the lead in the 88th-minute when Mikel Merino's volley ricocheted off the German and past a despairing Emi Martinez. However - following the intervention from VAR - it was ruled that the ball had hit the forward's arm on the way in.

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Arsenal took a two-goal lead in the match after Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, before Havertz doubled the lead after the restart. However, Unai Emery came back to haunt his former club with Youri Tielemans halving the deficit five minutes later with a diving header.

Watkins was on-hand to continue his hot-streak against the Gunners, as he rifled home the equaliser within eight minutes of the Belgian's effort. Arsenal pushed for a winner and thought they had it two minutes from time after a stroke of luck for Havertz, but the video assistant referee ruled there was an infringement for the would-be winner.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the England international and Villa striker said: "Seeing it back there, I'm not sure, I think it's gone in favour for us.

"If that was against me, I'd be a little bit disappointed. I don't know... from that angle I'm not sure, but that's what VAR is there for."

According to the Football Association (FA), a goal can be ruled out for handball if it has been scored either directly from a player's arm or hand - no matter the intent - or immediately after they have played the ball with their hand or arm.

In a post on X (was Twitter), the Premier League's Match Centre offered an explanation for that disallowed strike. They said: "The Arsenal goal was awarded on-field. The VAR established that the ball hit Havertz's arm immediately before entering the goal and recommended that the goal was disallowed."