Arsenal faced a setback as they found themselves trailing to West Ham United within 13 minutes of their clash at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night, under controversial circumstances.
Tomas Soucek propelled the Hammers ahead following lackluster defending from the Gunners. However, queries emerged regarding the validity of Jarrod Bowen’s cross that led up to the goal, as there were doubts about whether the ball had remained in play.
Referee Michael Oliver sought guidance from VAR, but the goal was ultimately upheld on-field due to the absence of conclusive evidence proving the ball had gone out of play.
The officials opted to stand by the on-field decision, as VAR could not definitively confirm if the entire ball had crossed the line. As Arsenal aimed to stage a comeback, their fans expressed frustration, particularly as a similar incident led to their first Premier League defeat of the 2023-24 season against Newcastle United last month.
During the game at St. James’ Park, a controversial situation arose when the ball appeared to have crossed the line before the crucial cross that resulted in the game’s only goal. However, replays demonstrated that the ball was indeed in play, despite initial assumptions. Sky Sports’ Gary Neville subsequently conducted a detailed analysis regarding the incident.
In response to the contentious decision favoring West Ham, Arsenal fans mocked the pundit, prompting him to react on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The aftermath of the game will likely feature a review of the goal, with PGMOL hoping to avoid another costly officiating mistake.
Arsenal is reliant on essential decisions falling in their favor if they aspire to clinch the Premier League title this season. Yet, they have encountered unfavorable luck with officiating thus far.
