Referee Andy Madley and VAR assistant Peter Bankes may have made a major error in the Arsenal defeat by not sending off Gabriel Martinelli.
What’s the most recent news on VAR and Arsenal?
The Gunners’ Premier League dream came to an end over the weekend when Manchester City defeated Everton away from home just before Brighton came to the Emirates.
With a title win already looking unlikely, Mikel Arteta and company proceeded to ship three goals in the second half against the Seagulls, with Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupinan all scoring.
Arsenal are now four points behind Manchester City with only two games remaining, while the league leaders have three more.
As if defeat wasn’t bad enough, Arteta should consider himself fortunate that one of his players didn’t see red in the early stages of the game.
Indeed, as this video shows, Martinelli jumped late to try to win a header, but instead charges with his shoulder and slams into Kaoru Mitoma.
Did Martinelli deserve to be sent off?
It’s a terrible challenge, and it certainly puts the opponent in danger, who was fortunate not to suffer a serious injury after taking such a blow to the head.
What is perhaps most remarkable is that referee Madley was not only not asked to review the incident by VAR, but he also did not issue a yellow card.
“Martinelli has just absolutely clattered Mitoma going for a high ball,” Arsenal football writer Charles Watts admitted on Twitter. Shoulder to cheek. Not the most difficult of tasks. Mitoma is fine, but Martinelli was lucky to get nothing at all. “Awful challenge.”
While journalist Sam Pilger was more blunt, saying, “I am speechless.” Martinelli of Arsenal was shown a red card for his challenge. He floored an opponent by leading with his arm. And he wasn’t even arrested! More baffling and spineless decisions by referees and VAR.”
This wasn’t the only instance of questionable officiating on the day. For example, when Enciso scored for Brighton, it appeared that Jakub Kiwior was fouled shortly before a cross came in, preventing him from dealing with the ball.
After the game, the defender expressed his displeasure, saying (via Daily Mail): ‘I felt contact and lost my boot and didn’t even see the goal,’ the centre-back told Viaplay.I hoped VAR would intervene and call the goal off, but the ref saw it differently.”
