How Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs fare in table without VAR after controversial Premier League weekend
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Arsenal are still licking their wounds having passed up the chance to go top of the table on Saturday. The London outfit were stunned by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.
The hosts claimed a 2-0 win against the title challengers in what was Mikel Arteta's first defeat of the season. The Gunners weren't helped by the absence of starboy Bukayo Saka in that game as Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert bagged goals in a 2-0 win.
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Hide AdVAR did play its role in the fixture, instructing referee Robert Jones to have another look at a William Saliba challenge on Evanilson. The Arsenal man was deemed to have stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity and saw red with the Gunners reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes.
LondonWorld looks at how Arsenal fare in a Premier League table if VAR simply didn't exist this season, alongside London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the rest of the division.
20th - Wolves, 2 points (+1)
Wolves would have claimed a point at Manchester City on Sunday if VAR had not intervened and ruled that John Stones' 95th minute winner should stand.
19th - Southampton, 2 points (+1)
VAR had a role to play as the Saints threw away a 2-0 lead against Leicester City at the weekend. One of the Foxes' three goals came after VAR deemed that Ryan Fraser had pulled Jamie Vardy back, the veteran striker scoring from the spot kick.
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Hide Ad18th - Crystal Palace, 2 points (-1)
Without VAR, Palace would be a point worse off after Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was awarded after an incorrect offside in their 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
17th - Ipswich Town, 4 points
There has been the one VAR decision against the Premier League new boys but it came in a game they lost 4-1 at Man City.
16th - Everton, 10 points (+2)
Abdoulaye Doucouré's goal against Newcastle United was ruled out for offside just before the international break in a game that ended 0-0.
15th - Leicester City, 9 points
VAR intervened to award the penalty that helped the Foxes turn a draw into a win against Southampton. However, those extra two points can be viewed as payback for a Crystal Palace leveller corrected after an incorrect offside.
14th - West Ham, 8 points
No VAR overturns for the Hammers so far.
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Hide Ad13th - Brentford, 10 points
VAR awarded the Bees a penalty against Wolves in the eight-goal thriller before the international break. Bryan Mbeumo scored it as the hosts won 5-3.
12th - Nottingham Forest, 10 points
Forest earned a point against Bournemouth but only after Dango Ouattara had a goal disallowed for an offside against Lewis Cook. However, they were also denied a point late last month after VAR awarded a penalty to Fulham - scored by Raúl Jiménez - for a foul by Murillo on Andreas Pereira. Fulham won the game 1-0. So overall they have gained one point and lost one through VAR calls.
11th - Newcastle United, 10 points (-2)
The Magpies earned a draw at Bournemouth but only after VAR intervened to rule out a late winner for the home side. Everton also had a goal ruled out by VAR ahead of the international break.
10th - Manchester United, 12 points (+1)
The Red Devils would have likely picked up at least an extra point with a draw against Brighton should a Joshua Zirkzee goal have stood. Instead, it was ruled out for offside.
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Hide Ad9th - Tottenham Hotspur, 13 points
VAR has yet to overturn any decisions for or against Spurs this season.
8th - Brighton, 13 points (-2)
Brighton currently sit on 15 points but that total would be reduced to 13 without the intervention of VAR to disallow Joshua Zirkzee's goal for Manchester United against the Seagulls. Brighton won that fixture 2-1 in the end. Had one VAR decision go against them and one for them in their opening-day win over Everton as they went on to win 3-0.
7th - Fulham, 13 points (+2)
Fulham beat Leicester City 2-1 last month with the Foxes' goal initially ruled out for an offside against Jamie Vardy. However, after a check Wout Faes was able to celebrate an equaliser but Fulham battled back to earn all three points. Earned all three points late last month after VAR intervened in a penalty award for a foul by Murillo on Andreas Pereira. Raúl Jiménez scored it for a 1-0 win.
6th - Chelsea, 14 points
VAR did help Chelsea against Liverpool, overturning a disallowed Nicolas Jackson goal and penalty against Robert Sanchez, but the Reds still emerged victors.
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Hide Ad5th - AFC Bournemouth, 15 points (+4)
The Cherries could have had a strong record if not for VAR. Dango Ouattara has had two goals ruled out by Stockley Park with a controversial handball decision denying him the glory in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United as his stoppage-time winner was chalked off. Against Nottingham Forest a week previous, he saw a goal ruled out for an offside against Lewis Cook. That game also finished 1-1. Also had a goal ruled out for offside in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool and VAR played a role helping them to a win against 10-man Arsenal on Saturday.
4th - Aston Villa, 17 points
VAR awarded Fulham a penalty against the Villains last weekend, which Emi Martinez saved against Andreas Pereira.
3rd - Arsenal, 17 points
VAR overturned a decision for the first time in an Arsenal game before the recent break as Kai Havertz's 99th minute goal was given after an incorrect offside. VAR also played a role in Saliba's red card against Bournemouth.
2nd - Manchester City, 18 points (-2)
VAR helped Manchester City to three points against Wolves by allowing the Stones winner. The two sides would have shared a point each if not for that late decision.
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Hide Ad1st - Liverpool, 21 points
VAR chalked off Trent Alexander-Arnold's goal in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester United for an offside by Mo Salah. Didn't impact the result in the end, however. Bournemouth also had an early goal ruled out against the Reds for an offside against Antoine Semenyo but Liverpool went on to claim a 3-0 victory.
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