Arsenal stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points on Saturday thanks to Martin Odegaard’s second-half goal, but the game has been overshadowed by a contentious VAR decision.

Referee Farai Hallam was called to the pitch-side monitor for his view on Nobel Mendy pulling Kai Havertz’s shirt in the Hull City box in the 43rd minute.

After a period of deliberation, Hallam confirmed that a “holding offence” had taken place but didn’t award a penalty to the confusion of the Arsenal fans.

Addressing the Emirates crowd, he announced: “After review, there is a holding offence by blue No. 32 on red No. 29. However, red No.29 is in an offside position, so the final decision will be a free-kick for offside to Hull City.”

There was no doubt that Havertz was in an offside position. The controversy centres on an important distinction in the laws of the game, which state that occupying an offside position doesn’t automatically constitute an offence.

Havertz had to become actively involved in play, by attempting to play the ball or challenging an opponent for possession, before being penalised.

Some will claim the defender’s holding offence should have taken precedence, regardless of the Arsenal forward’s position, and the wording of the relevant law appears to support that interpretation.

Highlighting the part of the law which addresses situations in which an attacker is fouled before committing an offside offence, former Premier League referee Darren Cann suggested Arsenal should have been awarded the spot kick.

He said: “If a player in an offside position moving towards the ball is fouled before playing the ball, the foul is penalised as it occurred before the offside offence.”

Asked for his opinion on the incident after the game, Mikel Arteta said: “I don’t know, I haven’t watched it back.

“I didn’t watch it back so I don’t have to lie to you guys. I was surprised, because when they sent the referee to the monitor the bench was telling me that it’s a clear penalty, it’s pulling.

“I know they decided not to because the starting position of Kai was offside, so I don’t know what the interpretation is. I’m sure they will make that clear to understand it.”

Cann picked out two similar Premier League incidents to showcase the need for greater clarity over the rule.

Brentford were awarded a penalty against Leeds United last season that was subsequently overturned following VAR intervention because of an offside infringement, while Newcastle United were awarded a penalty against Bournemouth during the preceding campaign after Fabian Schar was pulled back while moving towards a free-kick delivery.

While the defender was in an offside position, he had not committed an actual offside offence before the contact.

Cann concluded: “This law can be interpreted differently in very similar situations and more consistency is required to deal with this complex and ambiguous law.”