VAR CHEATED ARSENAL: Three Clear Penalties Denied as Fans Rage at “Corrupt League” 🔥⚽
Arsenal fans are in absolute uproar tonight after a highly controversial Premier League clash saw the Gunners denied not one, not two, but three stonewall penalties — all of which were either ignored or overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Supporters, pundits, and even neutral viewers have been left questioning the integrity of officiating in the league, with many already branding this season’s campaign as “corrupt” after what unfolded on the pitch.
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The Three Penalty Incidents That Sparked Fury ⚡
The game itself was tense and competitive, but the real story has become the catalogue of VAR blunders that went against Arsenal.
1. The First Shout – A blatant handball
Midway through the first half, a driven cross from Bukayo Saka struck a defender’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area. Arsenal players immediately appealed, but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on. VAR reviewed it briefly, only to astonishingly back the on-field decision. Replays, however, showed the defender’s arm clearly away from his body.
2. The Second Shout – A foul on Gabriel Jesus
Early in the second half, Gabriel Jesus broke through the defense only to be clipped from behind before getting his shot away. Arsenal fans were sure it was a penalty — Jesus even appealed directly to the referee — but again, VAR declined to intervene. Pundits reviewing the replay have since called it a “textbook foul.”
3. The Third Shout – Martinelli taken down in the box
The most glaring of all came late in the match when Gabriel Martinelli was bundled over while racing toward a loose ball inside the box. To the disbelief of everyone inside the stadium, neither the referee nor VAR saw anything wrong. The decision left Arsenal players visibly furious, with Martin Ødegaard confronting the officials at full time.
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Arsenal Fans in Meltdown 💥
Almost instantly after the final whistle, Arsenal supporters flooded social media platforms with outrage, claiming that the officiating was not just poor but deliberately biased.
“Three penalties not given? This league is finished. Corruption at its finest,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
Another fumed: “VAR isn’t broken — it’s rigged. Arsenal are being robbed.”
A third added: “This is becoming too obvious. The referees and VAR are killing our season before it even starts.”
Even neutral fans admitted the decisions were shocking, with many agreeing that at least one — if not all three — incidents should have resulted in penalties for Arsenal.
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Pundits React: “Embarrassing for the League” 🎙️
Football pundits covering the match did not hold back in their criticism. Former Arsenal legend Ian Wright called the refereeing “a disgrace,” while Gary Neville remarked that the VAR officials were “derelict in their duty.”
One commentator went as far as to say:
> “The Premier League is losing credibility fast. If a club like Arsenal can be denied three clear penalties in one game, what does that say about the standards of officiating?”
The controversy has added fuel to the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in English football, with many questioning whether the system is being used fairly — or whether it has only created more mistrust and anger.
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Mikel Arteta’s Post-Match Comments 🎤
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was visibly furious during his post-match interview. While careful not to invite sanctions from the FA, he strongly hinted at his displeasure:
> “I’ve been in football long enough to know what I saw today. We deserved better, and decisions like these change games. We need consistency and fairness, that’s all we’re asking for.”
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Is the League “Corrupt”? 🕵️
The word “corruption” has been trending among Arsenal fans all evening. While there is no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, the sheer number of controversial calls in a single match has once again raised suspicions about the credibility of refereeing in the Premier League.
With past incidents already haunting VAR’s reputation, many fans are demanding accountability — including suspensions for the officials involved and an independent review into why such blatant fouls were overlooked.
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What Happens Next? ⏭️
The Premier League and PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) are expected to release a statement on the matter, but fans have little faith in apologies or explanations.
For Arsenal, the damage is already done. Dropping points due to what many see as refereeing errors could prove costly in the race for the Premier League title. And unless drastic reforms are made, the anger among fans — not just at Arsenal but across the league — is only likely to grow.
