Myles Lewis-Skelly saw red thanks to a VAR intervention in the 1-0 defeat to West Ham.

Arsenal looked a gift horse in the mouth over the weekend of Premier League action, missing the chance to close the gap on Liverpool when losing 1-0 to West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners went into that match unbeaten in their last 15 league outings while the Hammers had suffered back-to-back defeats against Brentford and Chelsea. Arsenal will point to VAR as one of the reasons for their defeat.

The video assistant intervened when Miles Lewis-Skelly was shown a yellow card, encouraging the referee to watch the moment back and brandish a red. The Premier League Match Centre account on X read: "VAR checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Lewis-Skelly for a challenge on Kudus – deeming it denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity due to the goalkeeper’s position and there being no covering defender, therefore recommended an on-field review. The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card."

LondonWorld looks at an updated Premier League table without VAR to see how the standings would be if the system simply hadn't existed in the 2024/25 season.

Premier League table without VAR

20th - Southampton, 10 points (+1)

VAR had a role to play as the Saints threw away a 2-0 lead against Leicester City earlier in the season. 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.

19th - Leicester City, 14 points (-3)

Struggling Leicester City would be even worse off without VAR this season.

18th - Ipswich Town, 17 points

Would have shared a point with Spurs rather than claiming all three if Dominic Solanke’s goal had stood. Did also see a João Félix goal disallowed for offside in their 2-0 win over Chelsea. Had a penalty given against them against Fulham, as they settled for a 2-2 draw.

17th - Wolves, 23 points (+1)

Wolves would have claimed a point at Manchester City if VAR had not intervened and ruled that John Stones' 95th-minute winner should stand.

16th - West Ham, 27 points (-3)

Benefited from a late penalty against Manchester United, which Jarrod Bowen converted, to pick up an extra two points thanks to VAR. Also had a penalty awarded in the 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth, which Lucas Paqueta scored from.

15th - Everton, 31 points

The Toffees beat Brighton at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday but their 1-0 win came thanks to an Iliman Ndiaye penalty, which was awarded thanks to VAR. Everton would have had an extra two points if the last gasp penalty against Manchester United last weekend was not overturned by VAR (we are presuming that would have been scored).

14th - Tottenham Hotspur, 34 points (+1)

Would have picked up a point against Ipswich Town if Dominic Solanke's goal had stood. VAR did check Newcastle's first goal at the weekend but the decision was already given on-field with Spurs calling for a handball against Joelinton.

13th - Manchester United, 34 points (+4)

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. Then, against Liverpool, they could have claimed all three points if not for VAR intervening after a handball by Matthijs de Ligt that saw a penalty awarded to the hosts. Helped to a point against Everton thanks to VAR ruling out a late Toffees penalty.

12th - Crystal Palace, 35 points (+2)

The Eagles have not been friends of VAR this season with the system costing them two points.

11th - Fulham, 37 points (-2)

Wouldn't have picked up a point against Arsenal if Bukayo Saka's late goal at Craven Cottage had stood. Also had VAR award a penalty, scored by Raul Jimenez, in their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town.

10th - Brentford, 39 points (+2)

Yoane Wissa's goal disallowed for offside against Brighton would have been enough for all three points on December 27.

9th - Aston Villa, 39 points (-3)

The Villains were awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace thanks to VAR, but Youri Tielemans saw his spot kick saved anyway. There was a Watkins goal from the penalty spot against Brighton as already highlighted above. That helped earn a point for the hosts. VAR intervened to allow Villa a goal against Chelsea at the weekend too with Marcus Rashford judged to be onside, helping Unai Emery's side to a 2-1 win.

8th - Brighton, 42 points (+2)

Yoane Wissa had a goal disallowed for offside for Brentford in a 0-0 draw while the Seagulls saw a VAR call go against them when Aston Villa were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joao Pedro on Morgan Rogers. Ollie Watkins scored it as the sides drew 2-2. Everton also claimed a 1-0 win against them thanks to a VAR awarded penalty.

7th - Manchester City, 42 points (-2)

The Champions would be two points worse off without VAR as the system helped award the John Stones winner against Wolves.

6th - Newcastle United, 42 points (-4)

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 against Eddie Howe’s men. Newcastle United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 last weekend but needed VAR to award them a penalty to do so, which Alexander Isak scored.

5th - Chelsea, 43 points

The Blues picked up an extra point thanks to VAR spotting that Kai Havertz was offside for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. As mentioned, Felix was denied a goal at Ipswich in their 2-0 loss. The extra point picked up was cancelled out against Aston Villa last weekend with VAR allowing a goal for the opposition when reversing an offside goal.

Arsenal return to 2nd in world without VAR

4th - AFC Bournemouth, 47 points (+4)

It's been an impressive campaign from the Cherries, who would have even more points if VAR wasn't in place. Bournemouth would also have picked up three points against West Ham if the London outfit hadn't been given a penalty by VAR. They were also denied a late winner against Newcastle after a handball was spotted.

3rd - Nottingham Forest, 48 points (+1)

Would've earned a point in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United last weekend if VAR had not intervened to award the Magpies a penalty, which Alexander Isak scored.

2nd - Arsenal, 59 points (+6)

The Gunners would have extra points if Kai Havertz's opener against Chelsea had stood, as well as Bukayo Saka's winner at Craven Cottage. Havertz was penalised for VAR against Aston Villa, disallowing a goal which would have seen the Gunners pick up all three points. William Saliba was also sent off against Bournemouth after VAR intervention.

1st- Liverpool, 61 points (-3)

The league leaders would be three points worse off without VAR this season. Most recently, they had a penalty awarded after VAR intervention against Manchester United on Sunday.