“We apologize to Arsenal fans,” stated PGMOL, acknowledging VAR’s limitations and urging Mikel Arteta not to provoke their disappointment in North London.
PGMOL admitted that during Arsenal’s defeat to West Ham, a contender for the top spot, VAR wasn’t utilized. The decision to continue play was made on-field since Stockley Park’s available views couldn’t confirm if the ball remained in play before Tomas Soucek’s opening goal.
Despite Arsenal supporters’ insistence that Jarrod Bowen didn’t retain the ball, their frustration heightened when former Gunners striker Konstantinos Mavropanos scored a header from James Ward-Prowse’s delivery, securing Arsenal a 2-0 win. This result placed Mikel Arteta’s team two points behind Liverpool in second position.
While Arsenal fans usually accepted Arsene Wenger’s “I didn’t see it” explanation, they were less willing to overlook VAR using the same excuse.
The crucial question arose during West Ham’s first goal: was the ball out of play? Despite technology partially addressing this issue, it couldn’t conclusively determine the ball’s position. Therefore, Stockley Park made the on-field decision, allowing Tomas Soucek’s forceful close-range finish.
Several questions surround Arsenal’s VAR predicament, particularly concerning Oleksandr Zinchenko’s interaction with Gabriel in the build-up to the 13th-minute goal, raising concerns about his consistency for a sustained title push.
These queries may find answers when the transfer window opens next week. Despite efforts, Arsenal failed to threaten West Ham’s goal even after an intense seven-minute spell.
The team requires a consistent goal-scorer, whereas Gabriel Jesus, leading in the Champions League with 24 goals in 43 games, has only managed three Premier League goals, contributing to Arsenal’s struggles.
Mavropanos hit the bar from a corner by Ward-Prowse, furthering West Ham’s lead in the 56th minute. His subdued celebration reflected his challenging tenure in that position for eight forgettable games across four years. This compounded the frustrations of disgruntled Arsenal fans.
A high cross by Ben White following Bukayo Saka’s initial attempt at Alphonse Areola’s goal missed the target.
