In a dramatic twist at Craven Cottage yesterday, Arsenal’s late goal was controversially ruled out for offside by VAR, dealing a significant blow to their Premier League title aspirations and leaving fans and pundits stunned.
The North London club looked set to snatch a vital three points in the closing minutes of a fiercely contested match, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened after a tense review, ultimately disallowing what would have been the winning goal. Arsenal had looked the better side for much of the match, dominating possession and pressing for a breakthrough, only for their late reward to be wiped out on an offside call.
The Controversial Moment
The pivotal moment came in stoppage time after Arsenal worked the ball into the box from a wide position. Bukayo Saka delivered a pinpoint cross, and England winger Saka found the back of the net with a close-range header that appeared to seal a dramatic late victory.
However, after a brief silence, the VAR review flagged for offside in the build-up. The officials determined that Gabriel Martinelli — who had supplied the cross — was offside earlier in the play, despite only a small part of his body being ahead of the last defender. Because Martinelli was judged to be interfering with play before the decisive cross, the goal was chalked off.
The decision sparked immediate reaction, both in the stadium and across social media, with many fans and analysts calling the call a harsh interpretation of the offside rule. Critics argued that Martinelli’s offside position had little to no clear impact on the defender or goalkeeper, raising questions about consistency in VAR decision-making.
VAR and the Offside Debate
VAR continues to polarize opinion across the Premier League, and yesterday’s incident will add fuel to ongoing debates about its use. While the technology is designed to catch marginal offsides that the human eye might miss, its application — particularly with such fine margins often leaves supporters frustrated.
Offside decisions hinge on any part of the attacker being closer to the goal than the second-last defender at the exact moment the ball is played. In Arsenal’s case, even the smallest protrusion of Martinelli’s body was enough for officials to conclude he was offside, despite the apparent fluidity of the attacking play.
Arsenal Left Frustrated
Manager Mikel Arteta and his players were visibly disappointed, lamenting that the team had deserved the victory after dominating large periods. Arsenal’s campaign has been robust so far, but dropping two points in such circumstances could prove costly in the tight title race.
Supporters and pundits alike took to social media to express their disbelief. Many argued that yesterday’s call highlighted a need for reforming VAR protocols, suggesting that decisions should factor in impact on play rather than strict positional lines. Others maintained that, while harsh, the referees were simply applying the rules correctly.What This Means for Arsenal
The result leaves Arsenal with a draw rather than a win — a point dropped that could reverberate in the standings as the season progresses. With rivals waiting to capitalise, Arteta’s side must quickly regroup and approach their next fixture with renewed focus.
