Odegaard seals narrow Arsenal win as VAR call sparks debate
Martin Odegaard's late goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Hull City and a seven-point lead at the top, after a controversial VAR decision denied the Gunners a first-half penalty.
Martin Odegaard's close-range finish in the 72nd minute gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Hull City, sending Mikel Arteta's side into the international break seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. It was Arsenal's 34th 1-0 victory under Arteta and matched their best start to a season under him, with 27 points from 10 games, the same tally as in 2022-23. The Gunners have now won their past 10 home games in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets in that run.
Much of the first half centred on a VAR review rather than the football. Referee Farai Hallam was sent to the pitchside monitor after Nobel Mendy pulled Kai Havertz's shirt, and Arsenal supporters began cheering in anticipation of a penalty. Hallam instead ruled Havertz offside and awarded Hull a free-kick, a decision that drew inevitable comparisons with Liverpool's frustration last weekend when Jurgen Timber's tug on Alexander Isak went unpunished.
The incident reopened a familiar debate about how the laws treat an offside player who is fouled. Under the rules, a foul on an offside attacker can take precedence if it occurs before they attempt to play the ball or challenge an opponent, preventing defenders from freely fouling players who are already offside. Past cases have gone both ways, from Harry Kane's penalty for Tottenham in 2019 and Fabian Schar's for Newcastle against Bournemouth to Dango Ouattara's spot-kick for Brentford being overturned against Leeds last December. The Havertz case was judged closer to Schar's, with officials weighing whether the attacker could have become involved in a second phase of play.
The debate was not confined to the Emirates. Coventry were denied a penalty against Everton for a hair pull by James Tarkowski on Caleb Yirenkyi, and Everton's second goal came with the ball appearing to strike Thierno Barry's hand. Leeds wanted a handball against Mateus Fernandes, while Tottenham were left frustrated when a four-minute check cleared Jayden Bogle's challenge on Mathys Tel, who was forced off injured.
Arsenal's attacking output remains a talking point despite their position. They are the lowest scorers among the top four and have not netted more than twice in the league since the opening day, with Bukayo Saka out through a quadricep injury and Christos Tzolis and Havertz yet to recapture their early-season form. Arteta said his side need to be "more efficient" and "more chaotic" against low blocks rather than chasing the perfect goal. Arsenal have won nine of their 10 league games and, if they maintain that pace, could defend their title and claim back-to-back crowns for the first time in 100 years.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
