Viktor Gyökeres’s first-half penalty proved decisive as Arsenal edged Everton 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 27th-minute spot kick settled a game in which VAR decisions were as influential as any individual performance. The result returned Arsenal to the Premier League summit, but the controversial nature of the victory offered Manchester City and the chasing pack hope.

All David Moyes could do was berate on-pitch official Sam Barrott at the final whistle, while Mikel Arteta wheeled away with a cocktail of relief and joy. Arsenal dominated possession (65% to 35%) and denied Everton a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, yet the contest tilted into an arm wrestle after the break as Everton grew into the game.

David Raya (8.4) was steady throughout, commanding the air and composed with the ball. At right-back Jurriën Timber (7.5) kept Jack Grealish quiet and launched repeated forays down the flank. The centre-back pairing had mixed nights: William Saliba (7.0) escaped punishment after an incident with Thierno Barry, while Piero Hincapié (7.4) cleaned up loose moments effectively. Riccardo Calafiori (7.0) showed menace roaming inside despite a head knock.

In midfield Martin Ødegaard (7.0) grew into the contest, Martín Zubimendi (7.5) found passes that evaded challenges, and Declan Rice (8.1) was dominant when in motion. Bukayo Saka (7.6) had a big chance cleared off the line. Up front Gyökeres (7.2) won and converted the penalty but was largely contained by Everton’s defenders. Leandro Trossard (7.3) struck the post, and Zubimendi later hit the same upright.

Substitutions: Gabriel Jesus replaced Gyökeres (65) and was marked 5.9; Gabriel Martinelli came on for Trossard (80) and was 6.0; Mikel Merino (88) was N/A. Unused Arsenal subs included Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Nørgaard, Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri and Noni Madueke.

The match turned on refereeing interventions; an incident when Saliba struck Barry’s calf was reviewed by Barrott and VAR Salisbury and judged “insufficient” contact. That decision shifted momentum, but Arsenal held on to claim three points.

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned that Manchester United may be some years away from another Premier League triumph, while expressing cautious optimism about recent recruitment.

Ferguson suggested a long cycle could lie ahead after a turbulent period at the club. Over the subsequent 12 years, there have been six permanent coaching appointments and not a single serious title challenge between them. Ruben Amorim, the current incumbent, was appointed midway through a 15th-place finish last term, the club’s lowest league position since they were relegated in 1974. At that point, Ferguson was still playing for Ayr United.

The Scot, remembered for his 13 Premier League titles, also reflected on his own early struggles. Midway through the 1989–90 campaign, which would see United slump to 13th, fan discontent produced a banner reading: “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap… ta ra Fergie.” He contrasted that era with Liverpool’s later wait for a title, which was ended by Jürgen Klopp in 2020.

“I remember looking back on my own time there [at Man Utd], starting off when Liverpool were the bee’s knees,” Ferguson recalled in an interview with Press Box PR this week. “They were a fantastic club winning the European Cup four times and all that, but then it took them 31 years to win the league again.

“We are now in the same situation. It could be 10 years, could be 11 years, because of that cycle. It has to be thought out carefully and we have to make sure the recruitment is going to be better than what it was.”

Despite his warning, Ferguson praised United’s summer business and singled out the new goalkeeper. “I think the appointment of the goalkeeper has made a difference,” the 83-year-old noted. “He’s young at 23, he’s quick, a big lad, good feet and hands, and I think that helps. I think they have needed that player. United have always had inspirational players over the years. I think that has helped.

“The other two, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, they look as if they will contribute to the recovery of our form.”

Amorim politely rejected the long-timeline prediction. “He understands football more than me, especially English football,” the Portuguese told assembled media on Friday. “I think we will not take that long to win a league and I don’t know which manager is going to be here, but I truly believe that we can fight for the title in the next years. I think it’s not going to take so many years, but you never know.”

Saturday’s lunchtime meeting between Newcastle United and Chelsea produced a high-energy, two‑halves encounter and a refereeing debate that dominated the postmatch discussion. Chelsea were blunt in the first half and could have been substantially behind at the interval, while a second-half Reece James free-kick brought the visitors back into the game. Aaron Ramsdale may feel he could have done more to keep that set-piece out.

The key controversy followed a heavy collision between Gordon and Trevoh Chalobah. Referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR Peter Bankes reviewed the incident after an earlier semi-automated offside problem had already led to scrutiny of Woltemade’s goal. Supporters in the Gallowgate End and commentators on the TNT Sports coverage were vociferous; Ally McCoist described the challenge as “stonewall.” Joe Cole said Chalobah had been overly forceful and that it was a penalty.

VAR’s assessment was later summarised on the Premier League Match Centre’s X account: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Newcastle was checked and confirmed by VAR—with the contact from Chalobah on Gordon deemed to be side-to-side in a shielding action and the ball within playing distance.” Former referee Darren Cann echoed the view that the incident was open to interpretation. “At normal speed I can understand why the referee didn’t award a penalty. Chalobah certainly takes a risk in making such a challenge because there’s clear contact with Gordon,” he told BBC Sport. “So the decision was right to be reviewed by VAR, who came to the conclusion that a clear and obvious error had not been made and stayed with the on-field decision of no penalty. I do think that had a penalty been given, I believe the VAR would have stuck with that decision too. So this comes down to ‘referee’s call.’”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told TNT Sports: “In my opinion, yes. I think it’s a clear penalty, I think anywhere else on the pitch that’s a free-kick, the player’s gone into Anthony aggressively, too aggressively in my opinion. I think it’s a stonewall. No, because it’s not [side by side shielding]. I think the defender’s only look is Anthony and not the ball, I think it’s too aggressive.”

Ten minutes after the incident João Pedro levelled for Chelsea with his fifth Premier League goal of the season and the match finished 1-1. The decision on the Chalobah challenge remained the defining talking point from a lively midday fixture on Tyneside.