Mikel Arteta was fuming after Arsenal’s Premier League match against Sunderland, despite the Gunners securing a victory, and the Spaniard has now been vindicated.
The Gunners have had controversial VAR decisions go their way, but more often than not, these calls have gone against them. In that Sunderland game, a blatant error saw a penalty awarded against Arsenal, leaving Arteta and his side frustrated by the decision.
Arsenal frustrated by controversial VAR decision
It was a terrible decision and led to further discussions about the lack of consistency in decision-making when using VAR, despite the technology having been part of the game for some time.
Humans are still trying to master exactly how it works, and it can be frustrating when the system leads to a bad decision against clubs. Arsenal were therefore furious when the penalty was awarded against them.
Thankfully, David Raya saved the ensuing spot kick, but that does not change the fact that the decision was terrible. Metro Sport reports that the Premier League has admitted the penalty should not have been given.
Premier League panel backs Arsenal’s position
The report says the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents five-person panel unanimously disagreed with the on-field decision, providing further confirmation that the penalty should not have been awarded.
The panel explained the incident in detail, stating, ‘Although it was a very untidy challenge in which Konsa initially had arms around Ballard, Ballard engages in a holding action which pulls Konsa onto him so they both fall to the floor.’
The assessment confirms that the original decision was incorrect, supporting Arsenal’s frustration over the incident. While Raya’s save ensured that the penalty did not ultimately affect the result, the decision itself remained a significant talking point after the match.
For Arteta and Arsenal, the panel’s conclusion confirms that their concerns over the penalty were justified. The incident has also added to wider discussions surrounding VAR and the consistency of decision-making, particularly when controversial calls have the potential to influence Premier League matches.
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The panel also said that we should have had a penalty awarded against Villa for a foul on Bruno.
That’s two wrong ‘uns in five PL games.
If you add the terrible Man City against Unt goal that was allowed to stand thats three against AFC.
VAR operaters are simply not good enough.
Stan Adams,
The goal against United wasn’t against Arsenal. That was a very bad decision for them.
What are you suggesting, are we back on the conspiracy theories’ again?. 🤦♂️
He maybe Derek but what it does highlight is the inconsistency and how they can add up to points lost and gained by errors.
While I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, neither do I believe it all evens out evenly in the end.
Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel and retrospective reviews last season said ….
Saliba caught Everton striker Thierno Barry inside the penalty box. The on-field referee waved it away and VAR did not intervene. The KMI panel later ruled 3-2 that this was an error and Everton should have been awarded a penalty.
Martinell held Brighton’s Mats Wieffer inside the box during a corner, preventing him from challenging for the ball. The panel voted 4-1 that Brighton should have had a penalty and 3-2 that VAR mistakenly failed to step in.
the panel noted that Kai Havertz was incredibly lucky to escape a straight red card for a lunging, from-behind tackle on Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu
We conceded zero red cards or pens last season in the Prem so we do again
Isn’t it lovely the way these incompetent officials come out and apologize for their constant errors, along with admitting this shouldn’t have been done and that shouldn’t have been done.
After the event is to late, it doesn’t really help the wronged side does it. In fact for me it adds insult to injury, as the apologie becomes hollow.
Especially as they seem to spend half their time apologizing. 🤷♂️
Derek, this isn’t an apology by the refs organisation, Pro Ref, but a report from the Premier League’s Key Match Incident Panel (KMI).
Jax,
I stand corrected. But I think you get my drift.
Derek, of course, but keep in mind that the Premier League part owns Pro Ref, so it could take joint action against them, although I doubt if they would.
I know this is off topic, but I’ve just read on the BBC Website that Manchester United have been selling little squares of turf in little black cubes for £125 each as a memento for their fans.
It just shows you that clubs will go to any lengths to get you’re money. What next, miniature bottles of water from their leaking roof.
As for the sale of their turf, is it only to the grass-roots supporters. Is it surf and turf. But to be fair, it has been well Manured.
Apparently, some United fans were fuming when purchasing the Grass for £125. It wasn’t the kind of Grass they were expecting.
Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself. 😂🤣
😂😂😂😂
“ What next, miniature bottles of water from their leaking roof.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Very unfair actions against the Gunners with ill motive ti deny them the Trophy.
On topic. Some many Arsenals fans on JA don’t even support Arteta and the club position on that disgraceful Ballard penalty, but Premier League Panel looking at it do agree with MA and Arsenal. Just saying.
Moon Girl, the look on Konsa’s face when he realised that Ballard had tricked him.🤣🤣🤣.
Indeed. Add it to the elbow on Merino last season, and The Bollard is one of the most cunning, ruthless, sly, nasty pieces of work we can face each season. Perhaps we should have kept him.
Wait, no the point here is, the blatant elbow and blatant judo roll, the refs let him get away with scot free. Pro ref have VAR, but haven’t a scoobies how to use it consistently and fairly.
And of course, yes, go back a few articles and some JA commentators are backing the refs and VAR on the clear and obvious error of that judo roll, not Arsenal on that blatant judo roll. Looking for positives as always, at least those Arsenal fans who got this call 100% wrong – who can’t spot the difference between a Judo roll and a cheese roll, now realise they need a trip to specsavers.
Before they walk into a lampost.
Not to worry, as we are told things even themselves out over the season.
It’s like flogging a dead horse holding the Pro Ref to account as they keep making high level mistakes and then issue apologies that mean absolutely nothing regarding the result.
Has anything improved since the Riley days under Howard Webb?
Analysts revealed that without VAR, AFC would be 1st and as for city130, they wouldn’t even be 2nd, it would be Brentford…
When?
Multiple articles, including JA!
👍