Video Assistant Referee technology just handed Arsenal another gut punch. VAR confirmed that Bukayo Saka was offside during a controversial call in a recent Premier League match, disallowing what would have been a crucial goal.

Saka, Arsenal’s star winger, appeared to score during the match. But VAR’s frame-by-frame analysis determined he was in an offside position, and the goal was wiped off the board.

This isn’t Saka’s first encounter with VAR’s unforgiving precision. Back in December 2024, a late goal by Saka against Fulham was similarly disallowed. That time, teammate Gabriel Martinelli was judged to be offside and involved in the play, nullifying the effort.

VAR has been a fixture in the Premier League since the 2019/20 season. Its stated purpose is straightforward: ensure accuracy in key match decisions. The system has frequently sparked debates about what constitutes a “clear and obvious error,” the threshold supposedly required for intervention.

Technical reliability has also been questioned. An October 2022 match between Arsenal and Liverpool saw reported technical issues with VAR’s offside checking system, raising concerns about the infrastructure underpinning these high-stakes automated calls.