The Gunners had VAR to thank on Sunday as they escaped the London Stadium with all three points
Many across the footballing world currently consider Arsenal to be the Premier League’s luckiest side, following a controversial last-ditch decision made in the club’s clash with West Ham United on Sunday.
The Gunners find themselves on the precipice of a first title in 22 years thanks to a 1-0 victory over the Hammers, but that result nearly came crashing down in the 95th minute.
Callum Wilson appeared to have scored for West Ham, only for VAR to eventually rule the equaliser.
Wilson’s 95th minute strike was overturned after a lengthy VAR review, in which it was decided that Hammers’ defender Pablo had fouled David Raya in the build-up.
Much of the sentiment regarding the call can be summed up by what former Premier League goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said after full-time.
Speaking to ViaPlay, he said: “That decision today, it’s just so wrong on so many levels.
“What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick.
“That’s how they’ve scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kind of things, and then we get to this point…it takes VAR five minutes.”
Aside from Sunday’s call — which many including Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, and BBC Sports’ VAR and football issues correspondent Dale Johnson agreed was a fair application of the rules — have Arsenal been major beneficiaries of VAR?
From all the errors made by the Premier League’s video assistant technology this season, as reported on in the media, we’ve listed how many have actually benefited Arsenal.
What is a confirmed VAR error?
An initial list of “VAR errors” was reported on by BBC Sport in January, and regular updates have been issued throughout the remainder of the season by the outlet’s football issues correspondent Dale Johnson. This report contains a combination of both.
Per these reports, there have as many as 18 errors, so far this season.
An initial 13-mistake-long list was published by BBC Sport in January, who compiled data from the PGMOL Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI), over the course of the season. This has since been updated following later reports of mistakes confirmed by the KMI panel.
The KMI panel is made up of former players, coaches, and representatives from the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), who meet weekly to discuss decisions made the previous week, and conclude as and where errors are made.
It’s important to note that while the KMI panel has admitted to officials making other “on-field” mistakes, not all of these were “clear and obvious” to justify the intervention of VAR.
Take the game between Manchester United and Burnley in January for example. Around the 27th minute, Lisandro Martinez had a goal ruled out, after on-field officials ruled he had fouled Kyle Walker before scoring.
On review, the KMI panel reached the decision that the goal should have stood, but that the mistake did not meet the threshold of a “clear and obvious error,” meaning VAR was right not to intervene, even though the decision was incorrect.
Another strong example of a circumstance in which an official may make an on-field error that doesn’t qualify as a VAR error, would be in failing to award a second yellow card.
According to official Premier League rules video technology is still not permitted to intervene on second yellow offences, a rule that is set to change ahead of next season.
The below list only includes examples where the KMI panel agreed that both the on-field decision, and action taken by VAR, were in error.
Best UK betting offers right now – 18+, BeGambleAware
Every confirmed VAR error that has benefitted Arsenal:
On two occasions this season, the Premier League’s KMI panel has acknowledged that officials made significant errors benefiting Arsenal that should have triggered VAR intervention.
December 2025: Saliba at Everton
Everton should have been awarded a penalty during their 1-0 loss to the leaders at the Hill Dickinson.
The panel said: “A late challenge where Saliba carelessly kicks Barry with no contact on the ball. Two panellists supported the on-field no penalty call as they felt there was not enough impact and a delayed reaction.”
March 2025: Brighton are denied a penalty against Arsenal
Arsenal secured an important three points against Brighton and Hove Albion on April 4th, however their 1-0 victory should have been less straightforward, according to the KMI panel.
During first-half stoppage time, Mats Wieffer appeared to be brought down by Gabriel Martinelli, well within the penalty area.
The referee allowed play to continue and VAR officials did not ask Chris Kavanagh to review the incident.
This was a mistake, according to the KMI panel.
They ruled: “Martinelli is not looking at the ball, holds Weiffer into the area and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball.”
Although brief in number, the two errors are sufficient enough to have transformed the Premier League title race.
Both taking place in games that ended as close-fought 1-0 victories, had VAR intervened, Arsenal could have found themselves between four and six points worse off at this stage of the season, depending on how the matches ultimately ended.
Those four or six points would place Arsenal, either a single point ahead of Man City — if the Citizens win their match in hand — or actually behind Pep Guardiola’s side.
#confirmed #VAR #error #benefitted #Arsenal #season
