Arsenal fans left furious as VAR takes four minutes to disallow Martinelli goal vs Brighton and claim he's not even offside
Gabriel Martinelli thought he had levelled the score for Arsenal against Brighton on Saturday in their crucial Premier League clash.
However, VAR intervened to upset the Gunners, but it took a long delay for the call to be made.
Four minutes had gone before for the footage had been reviewed and the officials finally came to the decision that the goal would not stand.
What happened?
Brighton took the lead against Arsenal in the first half through a goal from Leandro Trossard.
Martinelli appeared to have pulled the home side level just before half-time, but the striker was level with the goalkeeper and his celebration was cut short as the goal had to be reviewed by VAR.
It took almost four minutes for the officials to decide that the goal should not stand, causing a stir among Arsenal fans.
What has been said?
Football fans were outraged by the delay in the decision and took to social media to express their frustration.
Am NOT an Arsenal Fan but this was a clear Goal! Var messed up! #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/1hGYCOBO0B
— AfroMambo (@afro_mambo) April 9, 2022
Gabriel Martinelli has the ball in the net for Arsenal, but after consulting the VAR, referee David Coote has overturned the goal because Martinelli was offside in the build-up
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 9, 2022
Still Arsenal 0-1 Brighton (45+4 mins)#ARSBHA
Did anyone see the people using VAR draw any lines for that disallowed Martinelli goal?
— Z (@spectrumphysic) April 9, 2022
It has to be corruption?
That is f*cking ridiculous. Martinelli was clearly ONSIDE. Outrageous decision - and another reason to hate VAR. #ARSBHA
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 9, 2022
VAR was introduced to stop Arsenal from getting Top 4😏 No other explanation😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/2BH8x4aw9G
— Beejay Stitches (@BeejayStitches) April 9, 2022
If it’s taking 5 mins to rule out the goal, then it should be given. No concrete evidence Martinelli was offside as well. This is a really poor use of VAR. pic.twitter.com/Vcx4OgZA9e
— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) April 9, 2022
After 36 years of checking, it is confirmed that Martinelli is a millimetre offside, and the goal is disallowed. This sport will be the death of me.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) April 9, 2022
Martinelli might have been offside. But not sure there was an angle that conclusively proved it.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) April 9, 2022
Feels like the benefit of the doubt went to the defensive team there. The on-field decision should have stood.
They’ve disallowed that goal cause they can’t see Cucurella’s foot and therefore it’s not conclusive if Martinelli was onside?
— GoonerTalk (@GoonerTaIk) April 9, 2022
The entire point of VAR is stamping out ‘clear and obvious errors’. If they can’t see if he’s onside, it’s not clear or obvious. What a complete joke.
What does this mean for Arsenal?
The clash at the Emirates Stadium is a crucial one for Mikel Arteta's team.
They were fifth in the table as they approached the game, trailing Tottenham in the race for fourth place on goal difference.
Enock Mwepu went on to double the home team's misery in the second half by making it 2-0 to Brighton.
Martin Odegaard did pull one back for Arsenal in the final minutes, but it was not enough for Arteta's men to rescue a positive result from the clash.
What do you think? Should Martinelli's goal have stood? Let us know in the comments! 👇