VAR controversy: Arsenal dodge three penalty calls in title race | OneFootball

Arsenal are surging towards the Premier League title, opening up a commanding nine-point lead over Manchester City after a clinical 2-0 win over Everton last weekend.

The foundation of Arsenal’s dominance has been their rock-solid defence, which has conceded just 22 goals all season.

While manager Mikel Arteta rightly deserves immense credit, he has also benefited from a fair share of fortune along the way.

The Gunners have ridden their luck on multiple occasions, with several tight 50–50 decisions swinging in their favour.

According to journalist Dale Johnson, citing the Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, Arsenal have controversially avoided VAR-awarded penalties in three matches that they ultimately won by a single goal.

The first flashpoint came during their narrow 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on March 4.

Bukayo Saka found the back of the net after a wicked deflection from Carlos Baleba.

The Seagulls piled pressure on the visitors but they remained resolute at the back.

The controversial moment came at the cusp of the interval when Gabriel Martinelli got into a tussle with Mats Wieffer inside Arsenal’s penalty box.

Martinelli clearly dragged the 26-year-old down but the VAR deemed no clear and obvious error.

The KMI Panel voted 4:1 that a spot-kick should have been awarded on the field, and 3:2 that it was a missed VAR intervention.

The second episode came in their 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Chelsea last month.

With the hosts leading 1-0, Chelsea were left frustrated as Declan Rice had both arms around Jorrel Hato before the ball struck his elbow. It was a clear penalty.

The panel voted unanimously 5:0 that it was the wrong decision but only one panel member thought it met the threshold for VAR intervention.

The third incident came in Everton’s 1-0 defeat to the Gunners on December 20.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 when William Saliba and Thierno Barry clashed inside the area.

The Everton striker got to the ball first, only for Saliba to recklessly kick his boot without making any contact with the ball.

The panel voted 3:2 that the on-field decision by referee Sam Barrott to not award a penalty was incorrect.

There have been 18 VAR errors this season. Remarkably, not a single one has gone against Arsenal, underlining just how much fortune has favoured the London side this term.