In the aftermath of Tottenham’s controversial win over Liverpool, PGMOL was relieved that a major decision did not impact Arsenal’s match against Manchester City. Mateo Kovacic’s actions could have been a focal point had Gabriel Martinelli not scored late, deflecting off Nathan Ake for a crucial goal. The game was relatively quiet, and both managers seemed content with a draw due to missing key players. City struggled to threaten David Raya’s goal, and Martinelli’s entry at halftime boosted Arsenal, ultimately catching Ederson off guard for the winner.
However, without the victory, Arsenal fans would have protested louder as Kovacic narrowly escaped a red card in the first half. In a frantic few minutes before halftime, Kovacic could have been sent off twice. His challenge on Martin Odegaard was reckless, catching him above the ankle. Although a yellow card was shown, VAR reviewed it for a potential red due to the challenge’s nature, ultimately upholding the initial decision. Many believed the tackle warranted an ‘orange card,’ a level between a booking and a red.
The more concerning incident occurred six minutes later when Kovacic needlessly challenged another Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice, catching him late and catching his ankle. Though it seemed like a clear booking, the referee ignored Arsenal’s appeals for a red card. Commentators and experts unanimously believed Kovacic should have been sent off for the combination of challenges, but VAR’s limitations meant it couldn’t intervene for a second caution.
Despite the late and sloppy challenge on Rice, it was deemed insufficient for a straight red card, highlighting the limitations of VAR, which can only attract the referee’s attention to a potential red card. The technology cannot intervene for a probable second yellow card. Kovacic’s late challenge on Rice, while worthy of a caution, didn’t meet the threshold for a straight red card.