Apologies, Arsenal fans. PGMOL conceded that VAR malfunctioned and requested Mikel Arteta to refrain from criticizing them this time in North London.
PGMOL admitted that VAR was not utilized during Arsenal’s defeat to West Ham, who were vying to reclaim the top spot in the league. From their viewpoint at Stockley Park, determining if the ball remained in play before Tomas Soucek’s first goal proved impossible, leading to the decision to let the play continue.
Following the first half, Arsenal supporters contended that Jarrod Bowen had not kept the ball in play. Matters worsened as former Arsenal striker Konstantinos Mavropanos headed in James Ward-Prowse’s delivery for a 2-0 victory, placing Mikel Arteta’s team in second place, trailing Liverpool by two points.
While Arsenal fans tolerated Arsene Wenger’s “I didn’t see it” approach, they were less inclined to use the same tactic to dismiss VAR.
Did the ball cross the line before West Ham’s opening goal? A snapshot from sophisticated equipment designed to resolve this issue indicated that the ball was still in play for a brief period. However, subsequent images raised uncertainty, leaving Stockley Park with insufficient evidence to make a conclusive call. Consequently, Tomas Soucek’s hard finish from close range was deemed acceptable.
Numerous questions linger, but the reality is that Arsenal may not necessarily require VAR. The team might benefit more from scrutinizing why Oleksandr Zinchenko collided with Gabriel before the 13th-minute goal and whether such errors jeopardize their title aspirations.
This inquiry will be addressed next week as the transfer window opens, prompting the need for more introspection. Despite an exhilarating seven-minute spell where Arsenal dominated possession with 87% of the ball, their attempts to score, even from a distance, proved futile.
The team is in dire need of a prolific goal-scorer. While Gabriel Jesus boasts 24 goals in 43 Champions League games, his impact in the Premier League, where he has only netted three times, has failed to control numerous games that slipped away from Arsenal.
West Ham extended their lead in the 56th minute when Mavropanos struck the underside of the bar from a corner kick by Ward-Prowse. His subdued celebration reflected the forgettable eight games he played in that role over four years. At this point, the frustration among Arsenal fans grew louder, especially when Bukayo Saka’s cross found Alphonse Areola, and Ben White’s superior close-range delivery sailed high over the bar.
