Unai Emery makes Everton points deduction claim after honest VAR admission

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery insisted he accepted the decision for VAR to disallow his side’s goal at Goodison Park as he praised Everton for the way they have reacted to their 10-point deduction.

It was the Spaniard’s first goalless draw in 97 Premier League games with Villa and Arsenal after Alex Moreno’s effort that looked to have put them in front was disallowed for offside after a four-minute VAR check. Emery said: “Yes, it was long because it was tight, it was 50-50. I said accept completely the decision of VAR.

“The most-important thing is that they make the right decision and if it takes a long time then we have to accept it.”

Although Emery accepted his side needed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to bail them out at the other end when saving one-on-one against Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he believed Villa had the best of the all-round play. The 52-year-old said: “It’s not enough given where we are in the table because we prepared for the match, thinking we could win and we’re very demanding. Everything we practised beforehand to do as well as possible over 90 minutes on the pitch, we did more or less.

Sean Dyche 'couldn't believe' what VAR did during Everton match despite correct decision

What happened during Aston Villa melee shows Roy Keane is right about Everton man he's 'had rows with'

“We only conceded one real chance in the first half and needed our goalkeeper but he made a very good save with a good action. Over the 90 minutes, we were in control of the game, we stopped them.

“Everton had a high press and aggressiveness, coming to us but we stopped it with good positioning, being calm and driving the ball. We controlled the game like we wanted and created more than them and more chances than we’d normally get