How VAR has cost Arsenal points in Premier League title race 2023: Explaining latest referee error vs Brentford
A Premier League title can be won or lost with the smallest of margins. Champions have even been crowned in English Premier League history, as was the case in 2011/12.
It’s no wonder, then, that Arsenal fans, who have dreamed of a first Premier League title since 2004, were in turmoil over an error by referees – including VAR – in their side’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Bees striker Ivan Toney equalized the result after Leandro Trossard’s opener for Arsenal, but Gunners manager Mikel Arteta insisted an offside flag should have been flown in advance.
Arteta has since been proven right, and the panel of judges — the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) – have released a statement confirming that an error has been made.
It can Really Arsenal cost the title? Sporting News goes through the latest VAR blunders and assesses whether bad calls from those running the technology could have a say in the league title.
MORE: Updated Premier League table with a breakdown of every race
VAR error at Arsenal vs Brentford
When the referees checked Toney’s goal for offside and a possible foul by Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, they did not check if Christian Norgaard was flagged for offside. Norgaard was the one who hooked the ball back in for Toney to finish from close range.
Referee Lee Mason was the VAR from his usual Stockley Park HQ and has been heavily criticized for failing in his duty to apply the technology.
“I just looked back and it’s offside, yes,” Arsenal manager Arteta said immediately after the game.
“You have to apply certain principles when defending and you do that by following the rules. Suddenly you change the rules and then you have to change your principles.”
The PGMOL took to Twitter to admit the mistake. A brief explanation read: “PGMOL can confirm that its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant failures in the VAR process in their respective Premier League games on Saturday.
“Both incidents that were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations are thoroughly reviewed by PGMOL.”
“They have no understanding of the game at Stockley Park,” says ex-Arsenal player-turned-expert Paul Merson. “It’s so clear and obvious.”
How VAR has affected Arsenal in 2022/23
According to ESPN’s VAR Decision Tracker, 67 decisions have been overturned by VAR this season, 20 of which resulted in goals and 28 of which resulted in goals being denied. But Arsenal feel they have been particularly unlucky.
Following the recent Brentford fiasco, Arteta’s men have a strong case that they could add six more points this season and that rules out a disallowed goal at Manchester United detailed below.
As well as Ivan Toney’s goal for Brentford mentioned above, here are the other cases that have come into question so far in 2022/23:
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle (3 January 2023)
The Gunners felt that in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle they should have had a penalty for a Jacob Murphy handball in the box.
Southampton 1-1 Arsenal (23 October 2022)
Arsenal also thought they should have received a penalty against Southampton for a foul on Gabriel Jesus in the box by Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car.
Man United 3-1 Arsenal (September 4, 2022)
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli saw a goal that was unfortunately missed at Manchester United after a soft foul on Christian Eriksen earlier.
That would have been the opening goal, but the Gunners instead fell behind to an Antony goal and ended up losing 3-1.