Stoke boss Paul Lambert seeks referee explanation after controversial Arsenal penalty

Paul Lambert said he would speak with referee Craig Pawson after his Stoke City side were undone by a controversial penalty decision in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

Lambert praised the effort of his players and felt the performance they produced at the Emirates warranted more, but the game turned on Pawson's decision to award the hosts a penalty with 16 minutes remaining.

Defender Bruno Martins Indi was adjudged to have brought Mesut Ozil to ground, only for replays to show he won the ball. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick, and the Gabon striker added a second soon after.

Substitute Lacazette marked his return from knee surgery with another penalty - but Lambert was unhappy with the match officials after watching his side slip to a third straight defeat, and he called for VAR to be introduced in the Premier League.

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He told Sky Sports: "I thought we were really hard done by. The first penalty isn't a penalty. I will go and see the referee, but it's not going to change anything.

"He's got to be 100 per cent right that's a penalty. Clearly, the TV shows it's not. Bruno says straightaway afterwards that he got a toe-poke on the ball and the TV sees it.

"I've seen VAR work. I saw it in Germany and it worked seamlessly, absolutely no problem at all. We bring it over here and it seems to be confusing. In those sort of instances (the first penalty), absolutely (it should be used).

"Because the way the game's going, the referees maybe need a little bit of help as well.

"In big moments in big games, I think you've got to be 100 per cent right to call them, especially in the magnitude of the game. It was a game-changer."

Lambert conceded that the second penalty call, coming after Aubameyang had wrapped up the three points with a volley from close range, was "soft" but the Scot faces a challenge retaining Stoke's top-flight status.

The defeat leaves the visitors three points from safety with just six games remaining, with matches against fellow strugglers West Ham, Crystal Palace and Swansea still to come.

Stoke had their chances with the game at 0-0 against Arsene Wenger's side, with Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the post and Badou Ndiaye also coming close, but they remain without a win since Lambert's first game in charge against Huddersfield back in January.

He added: "Since I came to the club, every performance I couldn't have asked for anymore. We need a little bit more luck but the performances have been excellent.

"I've just told the players that I've come here a few times and not played as well as that, even when I've won.

"We just need a bit of lady luck, but it'll turn. You can see the support today, the way they stayed. If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll be fine."

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