Arsenal missed out on winning the Premier League title on the final day of the season.
Before a ball was kicked on Sunday, was even the most ardent of Arsenal fans expecting Manchester City to drop points? You would say, no!
Yes, West Ham United scored. But Pep Guardiola’s side were 2-0 up inside 18 minutes and they made sure to seal a fourth straight Premier League title victory.
Arsenal did their job against Everton and sealed a narrow 2-1 win. But what went wrong for Mikel Arteta’s men?
Not much and you are looking at the smallest of errors, but Gary Lineker thinks ‘there would have been a few complaints’ if Arsenal did become champions of England.
One of the hot topics of discussion this season, for the wrong reasons, has been VAR, its use, the competency of referees and the rules around it all.
Arsenal’s winning goal against Everton, which was scored by Kai Havertz, was checked by VAR because of a handball from Gabriel Jesus in the build-up to the goal.
Michael Oliver checked his monitor, but decided to stick by his on-field call and Alan Shearer thought he did the right thing, as he told Match of the Day.
But Lineker rightfully pointed out that if Jesus had handled the ball, in the exact same way and scenario, but two yards from the goal and it went in, then the goal would have been ruled out.
But the former striker thinks that’s ‘strange’ and it further proves that the handball rule, which has caused issues in Europe and the Premier League this season, is a ‘mess’.
Gabriel Jesus’ handball for Arsenal
“Imagine if that had been the goal that had won them the Premier League,” said Lineker. “There would have been a few complaints, I think.”
Shearer stated: “He was sent to the screen by VAR, Michael Oliver. You can see Tarkowski goes in with Jesus and it does hit his arm. I wish more referees had done this when they have been sent to the screen, and then had the courage to stick by their original decision. He’s not the goalscorer. It’s not a deliberate handball. His arm is tucked right down, so I think it was the correct decision from Michael Oliver to stick with his decision.”
Lineker added: “It’s a strange thing, though. If he had been two yards out and that would have been exactly the same and gone in, they disallow it. How can you have a handball for one thing and not for the other? The law is a mess.”
Time for Arsenal to lick their wounds
This is going to be very difficult for Arsenal fans to take. You could argue that last season was a lot easier to accept.
Yes, they still collapsed after holding such a healthy lead, but they could blame themselves and themselves only – although, Rodri fired shots at Arsenal and Liverpool.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta shares promise to Arsenal fans on the pitch after missing out on Premier League title
But this time around, they made very few mistakes. Yet, they were still second best and missed out on winning the Premier League title.
Liverpool went down the same road under Jurgen Klopp. Two seasons worthy of winning the title, but Manchester City stood in the way.
At the third time of asking, they got over the line and ended their long wait to become champions of England.
Perhaps Arsenal will get their luck next season and they will finally be able to dethrone the might of Manchester City, who just can’t stop winning.
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