Arsenal fans have been left fuming after Bournemouth striker Evanilson’s goal was allowed to stand.
The Gunners suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the Emirates after Declan Rice had given them the lead in the first half.
Dean Huijsen equalised for the visitors after 67 minutes minutes before Evanilson bundled the ball home from a close range eight minutes later.
The ball appeared to have come off the Brazilian’s elbow on replay, but the goal stood following a lengthy VAR review.
However, Arsenal fans believe it should have been ruled out, with one saying: ‘Last clip clearly shows that it came off Evanilson’s elbow VAR: no factual evidence, goal stands’.
Another wrote: ‘I must be tripping because the ball very f****** clearly came of Evanilson’s elbow another joke VAR decision for Arsenal’.
Arsenal fans have fumed after Bournemouth striker Evanilson’s goal was allowed to stand
The Brazilian bundled the ball home as the Cherries claimed a shock 2-1 win at the Emirates
The ball appeared to strike Evanilson’s arm but the goal stood after a lengthy VAR review
A third Arsenal fan wrote: ‘“No factual evidence it’s off his arm” So it hits Evanilson & bounced down towards the ground. To do that, it had to hit an elbow.
‘Meanwhile, the ball hits Havertz’s hand with no real evidence until AFTER the game & PGMOL rule it out anyway.’
‘Stevie Wonder could have seen that hit Evanilson’s elbow, but VAR once again working against Arsenal, no surprises there, absolute joke’, a fourth said.
Meanwhile, the Premier League posted: ‘The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with no conclusive evidence that Evanilson handled the ball before scoring.’
And former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp has insisted the right call was made.
He said on Sky Sports: ‘Is there enough evidence to overturn that? I would say absolutely not’.
Saturday’s defeat was Arsenal’s fourth in the Premier League this season, with the Gunners now just three points ahead of third-placed Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s men will seek to return to winning ways and book a place in the Champions League final when they travel to PSG on Wednesday night.
Declan Rice had given the Gunners a first-half lead but they were pegged back after the break
Dean Huijsen netted the equaliser, heading home after a long-throw from Antoine Semenyo
The defeat was another blow to Arsenal, who must now keep an eye on the teams sneaking up on them in the league
Arteta took the gamble of naming a near-full strength side ahead of Wednesday’s season-defining trip to Paris, but it is one that has not paid off.
The Gunners will however have the slight boost of seeing Thomas Partey return to the side in midweek, his suspension for the first leg contributing to PSG’s dominance in midfield.
Moreover, the man who scored PSG’s goal in London, Ousmane Dembele, is confirmed to have picked up a hamstring injury, throwing the in-form forward’s involvement on Wednesday in doubt.
But even if the north London side do come from a goal down on aggregate, there is still the issue of ensuring they hold on to second spot in the Premier League.
Not least because after the clash in the French capital there is a trip to Anfield against the new champions, before the visit of Newcastle – who beat the Gunners at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup.
