Premier League confirm Arsenal benefitted from two huge VAR blunders in title race

Premier League officials have admitted Arsenal benefitted from a major VAR mistake in their 1-0 win over Brighton earlier this month.

The Gunners sealed a 1-0 victory through Bukayo Saka’s early strike on 4 March – one of only two shots on target for them that evening.

It was a huge victory for Mikel Arteta’s side with Manchester City dropping points in the Premier League title race that night after their draw with Nottingham Forest.

Brighton felt they should have been awarded a penalty at the end of the first half when Mats Wieffer was hauled to the ground by Gabriel Martinelli.

Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue however with the incident cleared by the video assistant referee Michael Salisbury who deemed there was ‘no clear and obvious error’.

But the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents [KMI] Panel has now said a penalty should have been awarded to the Seagulls.

The ruling said: ‘Martinelli is not looking at the ball, holds Weiffer into the area and prevents the Brighton player from challenging for the ball.’

The Panel voted: 4:1 that a spot-kick should have been awarded on the field, and 3:2 that it was a missed VAR intervention.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and his staff fumed with the decision, clashing with Arteta on the night and later accusing Arsenal of time-wasting later in the match.

That incident was the second time Arsenal have avoided conceding a penalty this season having also escaped punishment against Everton in December.

On that occasion, William Saliba’s challenge on Thierno Barry was not deemed a foul by VAR – with Salisbury on duty that evening too.

The decision denied Everton the chance to equalise from the spot.

‘I’d like to [tell you about the discussion with the referee] but I’d probably be fined,’ Toffees boss David Moyes said.

‘You need to find a way so we can talk about the referees or don’t bother asking me.’