VAR is SLAMMED again after Ruling Out Bournemouth's Goal against Arsenal in a 'Baffling' Decision from sucks toon Watch Video

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✓ Published: 04-May-2024

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VAR controversy struck again after two interventions infuriated Arsenal and Bournemouth during the Gunners' 3-0 victory - leading to calls for the technology to be axed.<br/><br/>Both sides found themselves on the wrong end of divisive decisions from the officials during a dramatic showdown at the Emirates, with Ryan Christie escaping a red card for a high tackle and the Cherries seeing a goal ruled out in the second half.<br/><br/>Strikes from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard put Arsenal on course to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League. Still, the visitors hit back through Antoine Semenyo, the forward bundling in after Christie's strike hit the woodwork.<br/><br/>However, the effort was chalked off after Dominic Solanke was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya after backing into him in the build-up.<br/><br/>As the loose ball dropped inside the penalty area, Solanke moved into Raya's path and looked to pressure him while the stopper tried to weakly punch away. The contact had appeared minimal but referee David Coote's whistle then sounded.<br/><br/>Cherries boss Andoni Iraola and his assistants were incensed after watching a replay in the dugout but their appeals to the fourth official fell on deaf ears.<br/><br/>A delay lasting several minutes allowed the officials at Stockley Park to check several replays of the incident but Coote was not advised to head to his pitchside monitor.<br/><br/>Bournemouth also believed they should have been awarded a penalty seconds before the disallowed goal after Philip Billing was pulled back by William Saliba. VAR did not intervene, though, thrusting the video team into the spotlight once again.<br/><br/>Piers Morgan has now led calls for the technology to be dropped altogether.<br/><br/>'VAR is so bad that even when Arsenal gets a verdict our way (like just now), I still hate the bloody thing for the way it sucks all the joy out of the game,' he posted on X.<br/><br/>'Just get rid of it.'<br/><br/>Arsenal legend Ian Wright also admitted VAR should not have ruled out the goal.<br/><br/>'Didn't think it was a penalty,' he said. 'Bournemouth's goal should have stood.'<br/><br/>Other social media users had their say on the controversy, too.<br/><br/>'Premier League implementation of VAR is baffling,' one said. 'VAR isn't supposed to re-referee games. It's simply supposed to tell the ref if and when he's made a clear mistake. That's how it works in other leagues anyway.'<br/><br/>Another wrote: 'Ben White gets away with it EVERY WEEK. I've had enough of VAR.' <br/><br/>'That's a goal all day, I have to be honest,' an Arsenal supporter added. 'VAR a shambles for all involved, just have to hope it's not your team each week.' <br/><br/>VAR controversy had also struck earlier in the game after a high challenge from Christie on Saka's knee was deemed to have been reckless but not dangerous. <br/><br/>Saka broke the deadlock from Arsenal's 16th shot of the game, the winger dusting himself off to coolly score a penalty after Kai Havertz was felled in the box.<br/><br/>Trossard then fired an effort underneath goalkeeper Mark Travers to double