'It's a terrible rule' - Jamie Redknapp blasts 'rubbish' decision to rule out Arsenal equaliser against Aston Villa

The Gunners could have salvaged at least a point at Villa Park on Saturday if alate equaliser had stood. John McGinn struck early which proved to be the difference-maker between the two sides. Eddie Nketiah did have the ball in the back of the net in the second half but it was ruled out for an offside by Kai Havertz after a lengthy VAR check.

Havertz was furious after the decision as he could have done little to prevent his arm from hitting the ball from very close range. Redknapp was equally frustrated with the decision in Sky Sports' studio and called for a review of the handball rule.

Redknapp criticised the decision and went on a rant. He said: "It's a rubbish rule. How can that be a handball? It struck Matty Cash. It is just rebounding around. It may just drop onto his hands and he knocks it into the net. The law being if you are the goalscorer and it touches your hands before you put the ball into the net, it's not going to count.

"We are getting ourselves into such a mess with these rules all the time. How on earth can that be a handball? It's the rule at the moment. But if we are trying to be helpful and trying to improve to make it a best place for more goals, someone must look at goal. It's a bad rule. It had grazed his arm. If he sticks his arm out and then it hits the hand, then it would be a handball anyway. Whoever has decided to come up with that as a law, I think it's ridiculous. It cost Arsenal a goal."

After clinching a late winner against Luton Town in midweek, the Gunners were relentless in their pursuit of an equaliser against Villa. However, they fell short of putting the ball in the back of the net which saw them slip to second in the league table, a point behind leaders Liverpool.

Aston Villa have now won 15 consecutive home games for the first time in their history which makes Unai Emery the fifth manager in Premier League history to achieve the feat - after Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini, Jurgen Klopp, and Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal will now shift their focus to their Champions League fixture against PSV on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta will look to rotate his squad for the continental tie as they have already secured first position in Group B and a spot in the knockouts. Following that match, they will host Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday which will be another tricky fixture against Roberto De Zerbi's men.