Arsenal are big losers from VAR with Gunners benefitting from just ONE overturn all season

Arsenal have benefitted from fewer VAR overturns than any other Premier League team this season.

VAR has once again proven to be a polarising and hugely debated topic this term, with a number of high-profile and contentious decisions dominating headlines. The technology has been consistently scrutinised and criticised since it was introduced in the top flight back in 2019/20. That said, it was voted in unanimously by Premier League clubs, and a motion to scrap it was defeated by a 19-1 vote last year.

But while faith in the system evidently lingers, there's clearly plenty of work to do before fans, players, and coaches are fully satisfied with it. This season, Arsenal have felt particularly aggrieved, with several controversial calls going against them, including Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card during Saturday's defeat to West Ham at the weekend.

Their frustration is understandable, given that they've suffered more than most when it comes to VAR intervention. In fact, they've had fewer overturned decisions go in their favour than every other Premier League side this term, with just one intervention benefitting them.

And that was all the way back on September 28 when Kai Havertz's 99th-minute goal in the 4-2 win over Leicester was allowed to stand after an incorrect offside call.

Decisions benefitting teams are ones where VAR has overturned the on-field decision on goals, penalties and red cards. This relates purely to overturned decisions. So, for instance, a team's goal being allowed to stand after it was ruled out or having a penalty awarded after a VAR check or a red card rescinded are all examples of decisions going for a team. As are decisions ruling out an opponent's goal, penalty, or an opponent's player being sent off after a VAR review.

Decisions going against a team are ones that cancel out their goal or penalty after it was awarded or if one of their players gets sent off as a result of a VAR check, and an overturn that benefits their opponents.

In terms of VAR interventions going against Arsenal, they're also one of the biggest sufferers, having had five decisions result in a goal being disallowed or one of their players being sent off, including Myles-Skelly 's red at the weekend.

Arsenal's bad luck with VAR has led to fan fury, with Mikel Arteta's men now struggling to keep pace with Liverpool in the title race. However, while the Gunners have had the fewest interventions benefit them, they have not had the most go against them.

That unwanted honour goes to Bournemouth, who have had eight VAR overturns go against them this season. Everton and Chelsea have also had six while Arsenal are in joint-third with Southampton, Liverpool, Ipswich and Wolves on five.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are the only team that has had no VAR overturns go against them this season. Although Arsenal have had the fewest overturned decisions go in their favour, interestingly, they have only had one fewer than title rivals Liverpool, who have had just two, along with Ipswich and Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle are the biggest winners when it comes to VAR overturns, with 10 decisions benefitting them - four more than the next most fortunate teams in Aston Villa, Fulham and West Ham, who have had six.

Arsenal's overturned decisions this season

• Match: Leicester (H; Sept 28)
• Incident: Kai Havertz goal allowed after incorrect offside, 90+9' - FOR

• Match: Bournemouth (A; Oct 19)
• Incident: William Saliba sent off for DOGSO foul on Evanilson, 30' - AGAINST

• Match: Chelsea (A; Nov 10)
• Incident: Kai Havertz goal disallowed for offside, 32' - AGAINST

• Match: Fulham (A; Dec 8)
• Incident: Bukayo Saka goal disallowed for offside against Gabriel Martinelli, 88' - AGAINST

• Match: Aston Villa (H; Jan 18)
• Incident: Kai Havertz goal disallowed for handball, 87' - AGAINST

• Match: West Ham (H; Feb 22)
• Incident: Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off for DOGSO foul on Mohammed Kudus, 73' - AGAINST

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