‘Goes unnoticed’ - Former referee reveals VAR blunder during Arsenal vs Bournemouth clash

Ex-referee Graham Poll has said Bournemouth’s opener against Arsenal over the weekend shouldn’t have counted. Midfielder Philip Billing scored after just nine seconds to give the Cherries a shock lead at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Poll has revealed that VAR missed the fact that Gary O’Neill’s side actually had a few players inside the Gunners’ half at the start of the match. It this was spotted, kick-off would have had to be taken again.

Arsenal went 2-0 down in the game but managed to fight back in the end to secure a dramatic 3-2 win to keep their push for the Premier League title on track. Winger Reiss Nelson scored a last-gasp winner to send the home fans into ecstasy.

Poll has said Bournemouth’s first should have been ruled out, as per BettingSites.co.uk: “VAR once again appeared to let Arsenal FC down again on Saturday as both the on field referee, Chris Kavanagh, and his colleagues at Stockley Park failed to punish the FACT that a number of Bournemouth players were in the opposing half before the kick off at the start of the match. Kavanagh should have seen the encroachment and ordered the kick off to be retaken long before Bournemouth got into the Arsenal penalty area.

“This happens in a vast number of games but a goal does not follow within 10 seconds and so the offence goes unnoticed and unpunished. Had the player who encroached the most, Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth number 24), been the player who scored there could well have been an intervention by VAR but with Howard Webb now in charge we will only see less technical offences that are missed being corrected.”

He added: “Had the game finished 0-1 there could have been more criticism but that’s how luck plays a massive part in a referee’s career. But it didn’t and if, like me, you want your football games to flow, you would applaud Webb’s approach; however I do expect him to have a word in Kavanagh’s ear to be more vigilant at set pieces.”

Arsenal will be pleased that they weren’t let down by a poor decision, like they were at home to Brentford last month. Results like that on Saturday are the ones that win you leagues and their ability to dig in deep and snatch the victory will give Arteta’s men even more confidence.