How "Awful" VAR Review Failed To Disallow Ivan Toney Goal Against Arsenal

Ivan Toney's equalizer for Brentford against Arsenal on Saturday was the subject of a three-minute VAR review. But how was the goal not disallowed for offside?

Ivan Toney's equalizer for Brentford during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Arsenal was the subject of a three-minute VAR review.

Replays of the build-up to the goal were studied as VAR operator Lee Mason attempted to rule whether Ethan Pinnock had been offside.

Pinnock had not been the recipient of Mathias Jensen's initial cross but he appeared to block Gabriel, preventing the Arsenal defender from challenging Toney.

This was the incident that was fixated upon during the VAR review but this had not been the end of the move.

Toney did not score directly from his first header, which sent the ball back across the Arsenal penalty area.

The goal arrived seconds later when Toney nodded home from close range after being found by a cross from Christian Norgaard.

Midfielder Norgaard had received the ball from a Pinnock flick-on. 

Replays later suggested that Norgaard had been offside at this point.

But the VAR review neglected to check this phase.

Ivan Toney loves scoring in big matches!

📺: @peacock #MyPLMorning | #ARSBRE pic.twitter.com/na875stsjx

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 11, 2023

Analyzing the incident on BBC Match of the Day, former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said: "It was a horrendous decision.

"Let's look at it in two parts. The first one is Pinnock blocking Gabriel, and he is in an offside position, stopping Gabriel getting to the ball where Toney is at the back.

"If they think he couldn't have got there and it was just a block and they weren't sure about the offside, maybe you could understand that."

Murphy continued: "They've spent three minutes on that. The fact that they're taking so long on that and are obviously panicking a bit... they have then clearly missed the worst offence of all.

"Norgaard is obviously in an offside position but they missed it.

"They didn't check it and I'm still amazed that that's happened.

"That should've been the first thing checked because it was the last thing that happened before the goal."

Ivan Toney pictured (right) after scoring for Brentford against Arsenal :: IMAGO/PA Images/John Walton

Ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer added: "Lee Mason's the VAR. He's panicked, thinking he's used too much time looking at the first thing.

"He hasn't spotted that and he certainly hasn't spotted the big error, which was the second header down. Awful error."

On Sunday afternoon, the Professional Game Match Officials Board confirmed that chief refereeing officer Howard Webb had contacted Arsenal to "acknowledge and explain" how this error had occurred.

The PGMOL also contacted Brighton relating to a goal that was wrongly disallowed during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

PGMOL can confirm its Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb has contacted both Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to acknowledge and explain the significant errors in the VAR process in their respective Premier League fixtures on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/dCDkooxhxf

— PGMOL (@FA_PGMOL) February 12, 2023