Thread by @DaleJohnsonESPN

Short thread on Arsenal's penalty against West Ham, and why there was no VAR overturn or use of the monitor.

I thought there was a strong chance the penalty would be cancelled, but quite telling the David Moyes had no complaints over referee Anthony Taylor's decision.

There are three key components to this decision, taking into account things I've mentioned in the past:

- a touch on the ball first usually means no penalty
- but if the tackle is reckless in nature a penalty can still be awarded
- what the referee tells the VAR is key

There is no doubt that Vladimir Coufal gets the ball first, so this on its own would be a reason for Anthony Taylor to hesitate and consider his decision.

But he also goes over the top of the ball and catches Alexandre Lacazette high on his shin.

So is it a penalty or not? Protocol is key.

Taylor told the VAR, Peter Bankes, that he saw the touch on the ball but felt the tackle was reckless (with disregard for the opponent).

For a VAR overturn to be possible, Taylor would need to have missed the touch on the ball.

This is also why the VAR check on the penalty was very quick.

Taylor described to the VAR what we can see - a touch on the ball, but over the top with contact high on the opponent. Therefore, it can't be a clear and obvious error.

If Taylor doesn't give this, I don't believe the VAR would have advised a review because of the touch on the ball.

But the decision on the pitch carries the weight, and so the penalty stands.

And the VAR cannot advise a review of the second yellow card for reckless play.

That said, David Moyes' post-match interview was really revealing.

Moyes has never been a manager to hide his opinions when he disagrees with a VAR-related decision, but he actually said referee Taylor got the penalty and red card decision correct.

Moyes' comments pretty much fit with the explanation in this thread.

He says why he can see it was a penalty, but how on another day his team might have got away with it.

Pretty fair comments, though I do think he was unlucky that it fell that way for West Ham.

Additional point on Palace's equaliser against Southampton.

Accidental handball by anyone other than the goal scorer is no longer an offence.

So the ball touching the arm of Odsonne Edouard before he passes to Jordan Ayew to score isn't a problem - unless it were deliberate.

Quick add on the saved penalty at Arsenal, and VAR protocol.

Encroaching on a penalty will only be penalised if the encroachment has a material impact on the outcome of the penalty, so:

- Keeper saves off line
- Defender clears ahead of striker
- Striker scores rebound

So if Buyayo Saka had scored the rebound, it's a retake as there are players from both sides inside.

As Saka's involvement didn't result in a goal, encroaching is not activated in VAR protocol.

Other encroaching offences remain the responsibility of the on-field officials.

So, the referee could, if he so choose, order a retake for players from Arsenal and West Ham being inside the area.

Though this would be correct by the Laws, it is something that is very, very rarely penalised at any level unless the encroaching is clear and blatant.