VAR farce as Arsenal denied blatant penalty for handball, fans are fuming

Arsenal fans are fuming with VAR after they were denied what looked like a clear penalty against Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta’s men arrived at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after Manchester City's victory against Newcastle United earlier on in the day.

However, they found themselves behind inside 10 seconds after a stunning kick-off routine led to a Phillip Billing goal, the goal was clocked at 9.11 seconds, which is the second fastest ever scored in Premier League history.

Arsenal responded well and continued to push for an equaliser, in the 33rd minute, Cherries defender Chris Mepham looked to have handled a cross inside the penalty area.

But after a VAR check, it was deemed okay by the officials.

As expected, Arsenal fans were fuming with the decision.

One said: “No shocks there. A clear handball not given by VAR.”

Another tweeted: “If that ain’t handball I don’t know what is. Another week goes by where we get a shambles of a decision go against us.”

A third fan added: “English referees define handball on a game by game basis.”

Someone else wrote: “Can anyone explain me the handball rules and how that was not a handball?”

Whilst a fifth commented: “There's clearly an agenda against Arsenal how was that not handball??”

Another fan said: “How is that not handball? VAR conclusively shows it hitting his arm, both above and below the elbow.”

Gunners fans are fast running out of patience with VAR after they have been on the end of some proper howlers.

Just a few weeks ago, VAR failed to spot Brentford’s Christian Norgaard in an offside position before he played the ball across to Ivan Toney to score a late equaliser.

The match ended 1-1 which ultimately cost Arsenal two vital points in the race for the Premier League title.

It was later revealed that VAR official, Lee Mason forgot to draw lines for offside when checking the goal, this led to Mason’s mutually agreed exit from the PGMOL.