BREAKING NEWS: PGMOL releases official statement on Bukayo Saka penalty call as latest VAR reviews the true call overturned by Anthony Taylor
Arsenal saw a penalty against Fulham be over-ruled after Premier League referee Anthony Taylor consulted VAR. The north Londoners were holding onto a fragile 1-0 lead at Craven Cottage at the time of the decision
Mikel Arteta thought his side were about to double their lead when Kevin brought down Bukayo Saka in the penalty area. Taylor initially pointed to the spot, adjudging the Fulham star to have fouled the England international
However, when given a second look, he saw Kevin made contact with the ball as Saka cut inside. After deeming the challenge to be fair, despite the frustrations of Arsenal players and Arteta, Taylor chose to reverse his decision.
“After review, number 22 makes a challenge and plays the ball therefore no foul is committed,” Taylor said when announcing the decision over the Craven Cottage PA system. “No penalty, restart with a drop ball from the goalkeeper.”
Another explanation was also given to fans by the Premier League Match Centre X page. They tweeted: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of penalty to Arsenal.”
Arsenal took the lead in the second half through Leandro Trossard. The Belgian was in the right place at the right time, after Gabriel Magalhaes flicked on an in-swinging corner into the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion star’s path.
The Gunners were in control of the match after Trossard’s close range finish. The decision to reverse the penalty call was the loudest cheer the home fans emitted in west London, but they could not create a momentum shift
Former Arsenal goalkeeper and now Fulham shot-stopper Bernd Leno was almost single-handedly keeping the home side in the contest. As the match trickled into added time, Viktor Gyokeres turn and lashed a close-range shot which was saved by the German, who quickly recovered and saved a rebound from Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta’s side needed a victory to move three points ahead of Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side briefly moved into first place after a brace from Erling Haaland saw them overcome Everton 2-0. Unfortunately for the Cityzens, the Gunners’ away victory saw them take their place back at the top of the table.
Before the international break, Arsenal leap-frogged Liverpool for the first time since September 2024. The defending Premier League champions were knocked off their perch after they lost 2-1 away to Chelsea and Arsenal beat West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta instructed his players to not get drawn into a title-race narrative. The Spaniard said: “We cannot pay too much attention to that because the feeling was you go to Newcastle, if you lose in Newcastle, the Premier League is over. And one week later, you are where you are.
“So, honestly, it’s less focus on what we can control, focus on our performance, focus on delivering and achieving what we want to achieve daily and the rest, it’s 30 games, it’s still too early
