Arsenal found themselves ruing a VAR controversy in their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United, leaving manager Mikel Arteta understandably frustrated by the unfolding events at St James’ Park.
Initially, the Gunners had control of the match, but tensions flared as Kai Havertz’s challenge heightened the intensity. Despite limited scoring opportunities, Anthony Gordon managed to put the hosts in the lead on the 63rd minute. The goal stood after an extended VAR review that looked into the possibility of the ball going out of play, a foul, and an offside.
Arsenal had dominated the first half, but matters took a contentious turn when Havertz received only a yellow card for a harsh challenge on Sean Longstaff in the 36th minute. This decision led to three Newcastle players, including Longstaff, being booked for their dissent.
As the game progressed, referee Stuart Attwell struggled to maintain control. In the latter part of the first quarter, Bruno Guimaraes appeared to elbow Jorginho and later kicked the ball at Havertz while shoving Declan Rice. The incident raised questions about the effectiveness of VAR, as Guimaraes was fortunate to escape a red card for his off-the-ball actions against Jorginho.
The Brazilian extended his arm, striking Jorginho in the head, leading to the Italy midfielder clutching his head. Despite a thorough VAR review, no further action was taken, leaving many, including commentator Gary Neville, unimpressed with the decision.
Mikel Arteta had recently emphasized that Arsenal couldn’t use VAR as an excuse for their 3-1 loss to West Ham in the Carabao Cup. However, this match saw him lamenting VAR’s involvement, or lack thereof, in holding Guimaraes accountable for his actions.
The turning point in the game came when David Raya struggled to deal with a cross from substitute Joe Willock, allowing Gordon to score from close range. Joelinton also outmuscled Gabriel in the air. VAR was called upon to assess various elements, including whether the ball had gone out of play, if there was a foul by Joelinton on Gabriel, and if the offside line was breached. However, there was no clear angle to draw the lines against Gordon, resulting in the goal being allowed.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession in both halves, taking 11 unsuccessful corners, and managing just one shot on goal, Arsenal failed to make a significant impact. Arteta’s team displayed its trademark solidity but missed the creative flair of Martin Odegaard in midfield and the cutting edge of Gabriel Jesus in the attack.
Arsenal’s title aspirations have taken a hit, with the team now trailing City by three points. City, in contrast, had a commanding 6-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad. The inconsistency of VAR decisions remains a contentious issue in football, leaving many fans and pundits frustrated with the lack of consistency and clarity in its application.
