How VAR has cost Arsenal points in Premier League title race 2023: Explaining latest referee error vs Brentford

A Premier League title can be won or lost by the barest of margins. The history of the English top-flight has even seen champions crowned on goal difference, as occurred in 2011/12.

So it’s no wonder that Arsenal fans, who are dreaming of a first Premier League title since 2004, were up in arms about an error by the referees — including VAR — in their side’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Bees forward Ivan Toney levelled the score after Leandro Trossard’s opener for Arsenal, but Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was adamant that an offside flag ought to have been raised in the build-up.

Arteta has since been proven right, and the referees’ group — the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) — have released a statement confirming a mistake was made.

Could it really cost Arsenal the title? The Sporting News runs through the latest VAR errors and assesses whether bad calls from those operating the technology could have a decisive say in the destination of the league title.

MORE: Updated Premier League table with a breakdown of every race

VAR error in Arsenal vs Brentford

Upon checking the Toney goal for offside and a possible foul by Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, referees failed to check whether Christian Norgaard was in an offside position. Norgaard was the one who hooked the ball back in for Toney to finish from close range.

Lee Mason FORGOT to draw the offside lines on Ivan Toney’s equaliser.

Christian Norgaard was offside in the build-up. Had the lines been drawn, the goal would have been disallowed.

Arsenal would be 8 points clear… 😬 pic.twitter.com/V5TYUzhpNO

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 12, 2023

Referee Lee Mason was the VAR from its usual Stockley Park headquarters and he has come under heavy criticism for failing in his duty to apply the technology.

“I just looked back and it is offside, yes,” Arsenal boss Arteta said immediately after the match.

“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.”

The PGMOL took to Twitter to admit the mistake. A brief statement said: “PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday.

“Both incidents, which were due to human error and related to the analysis of offside situations, are being thoroughly reviewed by PGMOL.”

PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/dCDkooxhxf

— PGMOL (@FA_PGMOL) February 12, 2023

“They haven’t got an understanding of the game at Stockley Park,” says ex Arsenal man, turned pundit Paul Merson. “That is so clear and obvious.”

VAR official removed from Arsenal vs Man City after Brighton error

The PGMOL admitted human error was at fault for the fact Pervis Estupinan’s opening goal in Brighton’s draw with Crystal Palace was ruled out for offside.

The video assistant referee for that match, John Brooks, incorrectly drew offside lines that showed James Tomkins as the last Palace defender, when in fact Marc Guehi had been closer to his own goal.

Brooks had been due to serve as the main VAR official for the Merseyside derby and Man City’s game with Arsenal this week, but he has been stood down. Andre Marriner will step in for Liverpool’s clash with Everton, while David Coote assumes responsibilities for the top-of-the-table showdown on Wednesday.

How VAR has affected Arsenal in 2022/23

According to ESPN’s VAR decision tracker there have been 67 decisions overturned by VAR this season, 20 of them leading to goals and 28 of them disallowing goals. But Arsenal feel they have been particularly unfortunate.

After the latest Brentford fiasco, Arteta’s men have a decent case to suggest they could have six more points this season and that’s discounting a disallowed goal at Manchester United described below.

In addition to the aforementioned Ivan Toney goal for Brentford, here are the other instances in question thus far in 2022/23:

Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle (January 3, 2023)

The Gunners felt they should’ve had a penalty in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle for a handball by Jacob Murphy in the box.

Arsenal vs Newcastle

Xhaka fires ball across goal. Murphy, directly next to him, attempts a block turning body away from m Xhaka. Arms out away from body.

Ball makes contact with arm, penalty NOT given. pic.twitter.com/ed6WOkrGWB

— 𝙀𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙚101 (@Elseebee101) January 5, 2023

Southampton 1-1 Arsenal (October 23, 2022)

Arsenal also thought they should have been given a penalty against Southampton for a foul by Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car on Gabriel Jesus in the box.

✍️| Former referee Mark Halsey: “Arsenal should have been awarded a first-half penalty when Jesus was hauled down by Southampton’s Caleta-Car.

Caleta-Car wasn’t goal-side and tried to make life difficult for Jesus but he committed himself to a clear holding offence.” [@MetroUK] pic.twitter.com/q2Vh564Div

— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) October 24, 2022

Man United 3-1 Arsenal (September 4, 2022)

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli saw a goal unluckily chalked off at Manchester United for a soft foul on Christian Eriksen in the build-up.

That would’ve been the opening goal, but the Gunners instead fell behind to an Antony goal, ultimately losing 3-1.

Dermot Gallagher reacts to Gabriel Martinelli’s opener at Manchester United which was overturned for a foul by Martin Odegaard 🎥🔴 pic.twitter.com/1uGI3Wtxd2

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 5, 2022