VAR

FOOTBALL fans joked Arsenal were awarded a controversial penalty against Man City to make up for referees’ blunder weekend – and even Piers Morgan was mystified.Mikel Arteta was still seething four days on from the calamitous error by bungling VAR Lee Mason that let Brentford’s offside equaliser stand when the Citizens arrived in North London.
Ederson was penalised for his foul on Eddie NketiahCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

Just before half-time, ref Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot when Eddie Nketiah was bundled into by Ederson.
Nathan Ake cleared off the line but replacement VAR David Coote – who came in for John Brooks after his own howler at Selhurst Park – saw no reason to overturn Taylor’s on-field decision.
That was despite Gary Neville declaring on Twitter: “Not a pen that!”
And Gunners-mad Morgan added: “BOOOOOOOM! 1-1. Brilliant penalty by Saka (even if I have no idea why it was given… 🤣)”
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Fans took to Twitter with a host of hilarious responses – claiming the penalty was soft but given to balance things out.
One said: “Arsenal were robbed over the weekend, so they’ve been gifted the equalizer here tonight.”
Another wrote: “There’s Arsenal’s reward paid back after that dodgy VAR from the weekend. So corrupt.”
A third added: “They felt sorry for Arsenal after the weekend. LOL this is what the refs in England are doing now.”
Most read in FootballIt was a harsh decision, says Mark HalseyBy Mark Halsey

ARSENAL’S first-half penalty when Ederson collided with Eddie Nketiah was a harsh decision by referee Anthony Taylor.
The Manchester City goalkeeper came out and Nketiah got his shot away before the momentum of both players saw a coming together so I wouldn’t have awarded a spot-kick.
This is the sort of incident you often see in the Premier League where no foul is given.
Taylor made a subjective call by pointing to the spot – which is what refs’ chief Howard Webb wants – and because it was not a clear and obvious error then VAR did not get involved.
However, had the penalty award not been given then VAR would not have intervened.
Ederson was already on a caution but this was not a second yellow card offence. Not every foul awarded on the field of play requires a card and Taylor deemed the challenge was careless rather than reckless.
It was a good spot by Taylor when he correctly waved away a penalty appeal when Leandro Trossard went down in the box as Kyle Walker came in to challenge.

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Another quipped: “Dodgy decision at the weekend went against Arsenal so now they’re getting a soft penalty? P*** off.”
One typed: “Arsenal fans are you going to stop crying about PMGOL and refs now?”
A Manchester United fan replied: “Literally no Arsenal fan or player was even thinking of a pen in that play until the ref gave it.”
And a final user commented: “That penalty was given to Arsenal to try to make up for the incorrect offside call from the weekend.”

Bukayo Saka made no mistake from the spot, coolly rolling into the bottom corner and sending Ederson the wrong way to score the equaliser.
However, it wasn’t enough for Arsenal to secure a point with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland netting in the second half as the champions won 3-1. More

LEE MASON has been stood down from VAR duty this weekend.The official didn’t spot an offside in the build up to Brentford’s leveller at Arsenal on Saturday.
Lee Mason has been stood down from VAR duty this weekend
Mason failed to spot Christian Norgaard’s offside in the build up to Brentford’s equaliser against Arsenal on SaturdayCredit: Sky Sports
Mason currently only works on VAR after retiring as an on-pitch official.
But he has been stood down from his duties this weekend.
The 51-year-old was not included in the Premier League’s list of appointments for the upcoming round of fixtures.
Mason supposedly forgot to draw the lines to determine if Christian Norgaard was offside as he was looking at another incident in the build-up to Brentford’s leveller in the 1-1 draw.
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It left Ivan Toney to score what could be a killer equaliser to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes come the end of the season.
The refereeing body, the PGMOL, wrote to Arsenal to apologise citing human error, and Howard Webb called an emergency meeting with all officials.
After the match, boss Mikel Arteta said: “I just looked back and it is offside.
“Have they explained why it wasn’t allowed? No. It is frustrating but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven’t got one.
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“You have to apply certain principles in defending and you do that by sticking to the rules. Suddenly you change the rules and then you have to change your principles.
“So tell us before so then you don’t hold the line that high.
“Because you’re always going to have an advantage if you get blocked. You cannot block if you are offside.”
There was also controversy as Pervis Estupinian’s strike for Brighton was incorrectly ruled out for offside as VAR John Brooks made the decision based on the wrong Crystal Palace defender.

That led to Brooks being AXED from the VAR team for Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Everton and Wednesday’s showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City.
But Brooks will return this weekend as fourth official for Aston Villa vs Arsenal on Saturday. More

ARSENAL legend Martin Keown has shockingly called for VAR to be suspended after a weekend of huge errors.His former club drew 1-1 with Brentford but the Bees’ equalising goal, scored by Ivan Toney, came after Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up.
Lee Mason supposedly forgot to draw the offside linesCredit: Sky Sports
Martin Keown has been left raging at VARCredit: Getty
VAR official Lee Mason supposedly forgot to draw the lines to determine if the Dane was offside as he was looking at another incident in the build-up to the goal.
There was also controversy as Pervis Estupinian’s strike for Brighton was incorrectly ruled out for offside as John Brookes in Stockley Park made the decision based on the wrong Crystal Palace defender.
The refereeing body, the PGMOL, have written to Arsenal and Brighton to apologise citing human error, meanwhile, and Howard Webb has called a meeting with all officials.
However, a fuming Keown suggests VAR may need to be ditched until the refs can use it without big mistakes.
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He told talkSPORT: “Is it getting to the stage where we have to suspend VAR until we get it absolutely right? These [mistakes] are glaring.
“To forget to put a line in, I mean I’m trying to look at a comparable of that in any other job or walk of life.
“Obviously, we want to progress in the Premier League, want to be ground-breaking and lead the way.
“But you have to look at the process, these individual decisions. Have we got enough people in the actual booths? 
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“In the World Cup, there were seven people in that room and they got everything pretty much right, didn’t they? There were good people, top people, well trained. We’re getting it wrong.
‘Maybe there aren’t enough people, maybe they’re not taking enough time. Just take your time and get the decision right.
‘I’m looking at Lee Mason being involved in a succession of mistakes in the VAR room. How many mistakes are you allowed to make?
“We don’t want to come down too hard on people because it’s brand new technology, so I’m looking at the overall systems.
“It’s not just one person, it’s a group of people making mistakes.
“Maybe they need to look at the system here and more people need to be involved to make the right decision because it has lasting effects. 
“Look at Brentford this weekend. People will say they deserved it, but not really. Offside is offside.
“This is the one area they told us they can’t make mistakes. And they’re making glaring mistakes.”
In response to the VAR horror show, Brookes has been taken off duty for the clash between Liverpool and Everton as well as Arsenal’s crucial game versus Manchester City in midweek.
Although the PGMOL have only admitted two errors, fans believe there were more questionable decisions made at the weekend.
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West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek appeared to handle the ball in the box against Chelsea.
And Wolves’ Mario Lemina was given a second yellow card for being the third player to approach a referee to protest.

Gunners fans are convinced Christian Norgaard was offsideCredit: Twitter
Brighton’s goal was ruled out after the offside was based on the wrong playerCredit: Twitter: @BBCMOTD More

OPTA’S supercomputer has revealed how Arsenal and Manchester City could not be closer in their epic Premier League title race after a controversial weekend.The Gunners were left fuming after being denied all three points against Brentford on Saturday because VAR failed to spot an offside.
Arsenal are currently edging Man City in the title raceCredit: Rex

Bees star Christian Norgaard was in an offside position when he crossed for Ivan Toney to equalise.
The PGMOL contacted Arsenal over the incident to explain what led to the mistake – VAR Lee Mason had failed to draw the lines to check if Norgaard was offside.
It is not the first time poor officiating has cost Mikel Arteta’s side this season, and they could be more than two points clear at the top of the league if correct decisions had been made.
However, they could stretch their advantage to five points if they can overcome second-placed Man City, who beat Aston Villa 3-1 yesterday, on Wednesday.
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Ahead of the Emirates showdown, Opta’s Premier League season predictions have the two teams within 0.01 per cent chance of one another to win the 2022-23 title.
And Arsenal are just edging it at present with 48.90 per cent compared to City’s 48.89 per cent.
However, the stats also show that the current leaders also have a 43.10 per cent chance of finishing second, which is greater than City’s 42.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, fresh from their 2-0 win at Leeds, Manchester United appear on course to seal third spot with 62.5 per cent.
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That is way above Newcastle’s 11 per cent, although they remain faves for fourth with 33.5 per cent as fifth-placed Tottenham only have 19.4 per cent.
Down at the bottom, and managerless Southampton look to finish bottom, according to the stats.
They have a 46.2 per cent of keeping that position, while Bournemouth (28.6 per cent) look nailed on for 19th as Everton (22.7 per cent) appear to be heading to end the campaign in the drop zone in 17th. More

BLUNDER VAR John Brooks has been AXED by refs’ chief Howard Webb after his wrong line shocker at Crystal Palace.Brooks was due to be on VAR duty for tonight’s Merseyside derby and Wednesday top of the Prem clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.
John Brooks has been removed as the VAR for two games this weekCredit: PA
Pervis Estupinan’s goal against Crystal Palace was wrongly chalked offCredit: Getty
But Webb has acted immediately after Brooks wrongly ruled out Pervis Estupinan’s first-half goal for Brighton at Selhurst Park.
Brooks drew the offside line from James Tomkins to decide the South American was offside.
But he MISSED the fact that Marc Guehi was standing BEHIND Tomkins and would have played Estupinan onside.
Webb, who has summoned all the PGMOL officials to an compulsory “emergency” meeting tomorrow, decided that Brooks had to carry the can for his errors.
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It comes after he also apologised to Arsenal for VAR Lee Mason’s failure to spot TWO offsides in the lead-up to Brentford’s equaliser at the Emirates on Saturday.
Mason even FORGOT to draw the lines to check if Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up to Ivan Toney’s equaliser.
Brooks will be replaced at Stockley Park by Andre Marriner for tonight’s Merseyside derby, with David Coote taking over on Wednesday.
Both clubs have been contacted by the Premier League, who are investigating how human error led to the incorrect calls being made.
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But that will be of little help to league leaders Arsenal who can point to refereeing mistakes in every Prem game they have dropped points in.
That includes the decision to chalk off Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against Manchester United for a supposed Martin Odegaard foul on Christian Eriksen, which the Premier League now accept was the wrong call. More

VAR referee John Brooks, who wrongly disallowed a Pervis Estupinan goal for Brighton against Crystal Palace, has been handed Arsenal’s HUGE Premier League title clash with Manchester City.Estupinan’s first-half goal was ruled out after a VAR review for offside.
VAR referee John Brooks will man the screens for Arsenal’s crunch clash with Man City DESPITE wrongly disallowed a Pervis Estupinan goal for Brighton against Crystal PalaceCredit: Reuters
However, the PGMOL have since issued a statement admitting to “significant errors” that denied Brighton the goal in the 1-1 draw with rivals Palace at Selhurst Park.
Howard Webb, the head of the Prem referees, apologised for last weekend’s mistakes.
Another ref clanger happened in North London in the 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Brentford.
Arsenal were unhappy at the error by video assistant referee Lee Mason in awarding Brentford’s equaliser on Saturday.
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Mason FORGOT to draw offside lines when reviewing Ivan Toney’s goal for Brentford.
And with the Gunners already furious following the decision that saw them drop two points to rivals Man City in the title race, VAR ref Brooks will be the man reviewing decisions for Wednesday’s crucial match, The Athletic writes.
One Arsenal fan fumed: “The premier league is the only place you can make such a mistake and then be rewarded with one of the biggest games of the season days later…”
Another said: “Surely this can’t be allowed…. pending investigation he should be suspended.”
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Defeat on home soil to City this week would see the defending champions take top spot on goal difference.
However, Arsenal do still have a game in hand and the two sides will meet again later on in the season. More