Var Controversy: Main cause explained why William Saliba was sent off for Arsenal vs. Bournemouth Premier League match on Saturday

Arsenal’s William Saliba was dismissed for committing a last-man penalty during their match against Bournemouth. In a race against Cherries forward Evanilson, the Frenchman was adjudged to have prevented a clean opportunity to score.

The Arsenal defender pulled Saliba down while attempting to trace back after Leandro Trossard’s errant backpass, which left him behind his opponent and through on goal. As a result of a VAR review, Saliba was dismissed after initially receiving a yellow card from referee Rob Jones.

The Premier League Match Centre explicated the decision online on X (formerly Twitter) by stating that the referee issued Saliba a yellow card for a challenge on Evanilson. An on-field review was recommended by the VAR, which determined that Saliba had denied an apparent opportunity to score a goal. After that, the referee elevated the yellow card to a red card.

Arsenal’s Saliba has now become the third player to be dismissed this season. In that undesirable accomplishment, he imitates Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.

Previously, Mikel Arteta has conveyed his disbelief and frustration regarding the calls made by officials against his team. Second yellow cards were issued to Rice and Trossard for striking the ball away during matches against Manchester City and Brighton, respectively.

In attendance at the Vitality Stadium for the game was Howard Webb, the president of PGMOL and a former Premier League official. The minutes following Saliba’s dismissal were marked by Arsenal supporters’ chants directed at him.

The sole two games in which Arsenal failed to secure a victory in the league this season were those in which they lacked a player. Raheem Sterling was substituted for Jakub Kiwior in Arteta’s backline.