VAR shambles as John McGinn’s opening goal contentiously ruled out vs Arsenal… even though ref’s screen NOT turned on

ASTON VILLA were denied a first minute opener against Arsenal after another contentious VAR decision – though it didn’t matter as they romped to a 3-0 win.

John McGinn sweetly struck past Gunners stopper Bernd Leno with just 45 seconds on the clock.

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Martin Atkinson had to improvise to see any image of the incidentCredit: Richard Pelham

The pitchside monitor didn’t appear to have been switched onCredit: AP:Associated Press

McGinn had fired the ball past the marginally offside Ross BarkleyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

It appeared a perfectly good goal to every single viewer that shelled out £14.95 to watch the match on Sky Sports Box Office.

But by the time the game got back underway almost FIVE minutes later, the goal had been controversially chalked off.

While Ross Barkley did not touch the ball, as it whizzed past him and into the net, the Chelsea-loanee was deemed to be in Leno’s eyeline – even though the strike rocketed past the German in a flash.

Referee Martin Atkinson trotted over to the pitchside monitor to have a look at the incident.

But the scene descended into farce, when the experienced official had to watch it back on a miniature screen, with the main one seemingly not even switched on.

When grabs of the incident appeared on social media, fans were not impressed in the slightest.

One wrote: “That is a joke”.

While another added: “How tf is this an offside”.

VAR deemed Barkley to be marginally offside and interfering with playCredit: Sky Sports

The Scot was convinced that he’d given Aston Villa the leadCredit: Reuters

A third commented: “Var gotta chill fs”.

And a fourth exasperatedly wrote: “This is rubbish…..”

Villa weren’t to be denied their opener in the 25th minute, however, with a Bukayo Saka own goal finally giving Dean Smith’s side the lead they felt they should already have had.

Red hot Ollie Watkins then scored twice in the second half as Aston Villa thumped a lacklustre Arsenal to move back up to sixth in the Premier League.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk