VAR SLAMMED again after ruling out Bournemouth's goal at Arsenal

VAR controversy struck again after two interventions infuriated Arsenal and Bournemouth during the Gunners' 3-0 victory - leading to calls for the technology to be axed.

Both sides found themselves on the wrong end of divisive decisions from the officials during a dramatic showdown at the Emirates, with Ryan Christie escaping a red card for a high tackle and the Cherries seeing a goal ruled out in the second half.

Strikes from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard put Arsenal on course to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League but the visitors hit back through Antoine Semenyo, the forward bundling in after Christie's strike hit the woodwork.

The effort was chalked off, however, after Dominic Solanke was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya after backing into him in the build-up.

As the loose ball dropped inside the penalty area, Solanke moved into Raya's path and looked to pressure him while the stopper tried to weakly punch away. The contact had appeared minimal but referee David Coote's whistle then sounded.

Bournemouth saw a goal ruled out against Arsenal after a controversial VAR intervention

Dominic Solanke was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya as the ball dropped

Cherries boss Andoni Iraola and his assistants were incensed after watching a replay in the dugout but their appeals to the fourth official fell on deaf ears.

A delay lasting several minutes allowed the officials at Stockley Park to check several replays of the incident but Coote was not advised to head to his pitchside monitor.

Bournemouth also believed they should have been awarded a penalty seconds before the disallowed goal after Philip Billing was pulled back by William Saliba. VAR did not intervene, though, thrusting the video team into the spotlight once again.

Piers Morgan has now led calls for the technology to be dropped altogether.

'VAR is so bad that even when Arsenal get a verdict our way (like just now), I still hate the bloody thing for the way it sucks all the joy out of the game,' he posted on X.

The Cherries were incensed with the decision during their 3-0 defeat at the Emirates

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola believes his side should also have been awarded a penalty

'Just get rid of it.'

Arsenal legend Ian Wright also admitted VAR should not have ruled out the goal.

'Didn't think it was a penalty,' he said. 'Bournemouth's goal should have stood.'

Other social media users had their say on the controversy, too.

'Premier League implementation of VAR is baffling,' one said. 'VAR isn't supposed to re-referee games. It's simply supposed to tell the ref if and when he's made a clear and obvious mistake. That's how it works in other leagues anyway.'

Another wrote: 'Ben White gets away with it EVERY WEEK. I've had enough of VAR.' 

VAR was in the spotlight after Ryan Christie escaped a red card for a tackle on Bukayo Saka

Saka dusted himself down to break the deadlock, with Arsenal moving four points clear

'That's a goal all day, I have to be honest,' an Arsenal supporter added. 'VAR a shambles for all involved, just have to hope it's not your team each week.' 

VAR controversy had also struck earlier in the game after a high challenge from Christie on Saka's knee was deemed to have been reckless but not dangerous. 

Saka broke the deadlock from Arsenal's 16th shot of the game, the winger dusting himself off to coolly score a penalty after Kai Havertz was felled in the box.

Trossard then fired an effort underneath goalkeeper Mark Travers to double Arsenal's lead and Declan Rice added gloss to the scoreline with a third late on.

The victory means that Mikel Arteta's side are four points clear at the top of the Premier League, although Manchester City have two games in hand.