Huge VAR moments – Brentford equaliser dents Gunners title hopespublished at 11:20 BST
11:20 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he would only be satisfied if his side were given two points back for the VAR error that allowed Brentford’s equaliser to stand in February 2023.
During the 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, Ivan Toney’s 74th-minute goal was the subject of a VAR check by Lee Mason following Ethan Pinnock’s challenge on Gabriel.
That incident was cleared but there was a suggestion that then Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard was offside in the goal’s build-up.
However, Mason did not use the system’s lines that would have shown whether the Dane was offside or not, something that was later called “human error” in a statement by the PGMOL.
“It wasn’t human error, it was not understanding your job,” said Arteta.
“That’s not acceptable, I’m sorry.
“It cost Arsenal two points that are not going to be restored so we are going to have to find those two points somewhere else in the league.”
Mason was not selected for any Premier League matches the following weekend, and subsequently left the PGMOL by mutual consent, while PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb contacted Arsenal to “acknowledge and explain the significant error” that occurred.