PGMOL expressed regret to Arsenal supporters, acknowledging VAR’s flaws and urging Mikel Arteta to avoid upsetting them in North London. In the aftermath of Arsenal’s loss to West Ham, where VAR wasn’t applied due to visibility challenges at Stockley Park, the PGMOL conceded that the decision to continue play was based on on-field judgment.
Despite Arsenal fans disputing the ball’s trajectory in the build-up to West Ham’s first goal, Konstantinos Mavropanos ultimately secured a 2-0 victory for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s team now trailed Liverpool by two points.
While Arsenal supporters once accepted Arsene Wenger’s “I didn’t see it” explanation, there was little inclination to dismiss VAR using the same rationale. The question lingered about whether the ball was over the line in the lead-up to West Ham’s goal, with cutting-edge technology offering only partial insights.
Arsenal’s VAR troubles extended further, with scrutiny on Oleksandr Zinchenko’s involvement in the thirteenth-minute goal. Questions arose about whether he was prone to such errors that could impact Arsenal’s title aspirations.
As the transfer window approached, Arsenal faced uncertainties about acquiring a consistent goal-scorer, especially given Gabriel Jesus’ prominence in the Champions League but limited Premier League goal tally. Mavropanos’ attempt hitting the bar in the 56th minute added to West Ham’s lead, with Jesus becoming a focal point for discontent among Arsenal fans.
Despite intriguing moments and attempts, Arsenal struggled to threaten West Ham’s goal, emphasizing the need for a reliable goal-scorer. The narrative extended to Jesus’ performance, hinting at a potential resolution during the upcoming transfer window.
