GONE TOO VAR
Arsenal would be TOP of the Premier League if VAR didn’t exist as full table is revealed
One club would be in the top four for the first time
ARSENAL would be TOP of the Prem table if VAR did not exist.
Despite their 5-1 thumping of Manchester City, Mikel Arteta’s side remain six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
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But if the original decisions in the Gunners’ games had not been overturned by the Stockley Park VAR booth, Arsenal would have had SIX more points, with Liverpool a point worse off.
And that would have seen the Emirates side a point clear of the Anfield outfit.
Arsenal have only seen five decisions changed after VAR intervention in their 24 Prem games so far.
Only one of those - when Kai Havertz’ injury time goal in the 4-2 win over Leicester was initially wrongly flagged, has gone in their favour.
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The first of the others saw William Saliba’s yellow card for a “last man” foul on Bournemouth striker Evanilson upgraded - although Arsenal were second best all game as they eventually lost 2-0.
But the other three decisions - while all rightly corrected, denied the Gunners three wins.
Havertz thought he had put his side ahead in the first half of the 1-1 draw at Chelsea, only for the technology to wipe out the strike.
Then an offside call against Gabriel Martinelli in the build-up wiped out Bukayo Saka’s 88th-minute “winner” at Fulham.
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And the VAR booth spotting that Mikel Merino’s late shot had deflected past Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez off Havertz’s forearm meant last month’s clash at the Emirates finished 2-2.
Liverpool’s second goal in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United came with VAR spotting a handball offence by Matthijs de Ligt, ensuring they took a point from the game.
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While none of those decisions were wrong, it does show the potential impact of VAR.
Without VAR, Bournemouth would be fourth, three places and five points better off - with PGMOL conceding their “winner” against Newcastle at the start of the season was wrongly disallowed for handball by Dango Ouattara.
Newcastle have had TEN VAR changes in their favour, with only two against, while the technology has cost Man Utd four points.
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