Hull City Get VAR Verdict After Controversial Arsenal Penalty Decision Made

Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 win over Hull City to consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table, despite being on the wrong end of a VAR controversy.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic was unable to lead his side to a positive result in what was a valiant effort away to the champions. Mikel Arteta’s side claimed a fifth consecutive league win on Saturday afternoon – their ninth in just 10 matches – courtesy of Martin Odegaard’s 72nd-minute strike.

The game at the Emirates Stadium appeared to be drifting towards a stalemate before the Gunners’ skipper pounced after Noni Madueke’s effort was parried into his path by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.

The league leaders could, however, feel hard done by that they weren’t already ahead before Odegaard’s goal, following a contentious first-half incident. The hosts were denied a penalty after VAR ruled that Kai Havertz was offside in the build-up to being brought down in the box by Tigers’ defender Nobel Mendy.

Referee Farai Hallam’s initial decision to award a foul sparked brief celebrations from the home supporters, before the official confirmed a free-kick to the Tigers instead. Arteta cut a furious figure on the touchline shortly afterwards, in what proved to be a dominant yet deeply frustrating first half for his side.

VAR spent several minutes reviewing the potential infringement before Hallam was directed to consult the pitchside monitor. He was advised by VAR that Mendy had tugged Havertz’s shirt, but as the German forward was offside at the time, no foul could be given.

Following Hallam’s ruling, a Premier League statement read: “VAR recommended an on-field review for a potential penalty to Arsenal for a challenge by Mendy on Havertz – but determined that Havertz was in an offside position in the build-up.”

An incensed Arteta confronted the fourth official before half-time, while evident frustration rippled through the Arsenal dugout. It subsequently came to light that the Gunners had been wronged, after BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson provided a breakdown of the relevant regulations.

He wrote: “That is a very controversial VAR intervention at the Emirates. A player who is in an offside position only becomes active when they commit an offside offence. Kai Havertz must be ‘attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball’ – otherwise the shirt pull by Nobel Mendy takes precedence. The foul comes before any offside offence.”

A dream start in their return to the top-flight saw City beat Manchester United and Coventry City, but have since gone eight games without a league win. The club sit 13th in the table and next face high-flying Brighton at home after the international break.

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