Newcastle End Arsenal's Unbeaten Start With Anthony Gordon Goal Given After Epic VAR Review

Arsenal lost in the EPL for the first time this season as a controversial Anthony Gordon goal awarded after an epic VAR review earned Newcastle a 1-0 win.

Arsenal lost in the Premier League for the first time this season after a controversial goal earned Newcastle a 1-0 win at St. James' Park on Saturday.

Anthony Gordon's winning goal - which hit the net midway through the second half - was scrutinized by the VAR team for four minutes before finally being awarded.

The first part of the VAR's epic review was to determine whether the ball had gone out of play before Joe Willock crossed it into the box from the left wing.

It certainly looked close but none of the replays or still images available to the VAR could conclusively prove that the whole of the ball had crossed the whole of the line.

Gordon!

Newcastle go 1-0 up on Arsenal. #NEWARS

📺 @NBC & @peacock pic.twitter.com/rZ2pJbQlVf

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 4, 2023

This image was looked at by the VAR during Newcastle's 1-0 win over Arsenal to try to determine whether the ball had left the field of play shortly before a goal was scored by Anthony Gordon / Sky Sports

"How much does that goal mean to Anthony Gordon?" 🔥

A long VAR check but Newcastle lead! ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/kEZoPkMMtx

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 4, 2023

The next question was did Joelinton foul Arsenal defender Gabriel when attacking Willock's cross? No, was the eventual answer.

Finally, the VAR wanted to check whether Gordon had been offside when Joelinton touched the ball into his path.

But again the camera angles available could not be used to make a definitive call.

The ball appeared to strike Joelinton multiple times before deflecting into the path of Gordon, who was only stood in front of Joelinton momentarily during this short sequence.

With the evidence available, the VAR was unable to say with certainty that the last of those Joelinton touches had occurred while Gordon was ahead of him.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious after the final whistle and said repeatedly in an interview with Sky Sports that the decision to allow the goal was a "disgrace".

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured speaking to Sky Sports after his team's 1-0 defeat at Newcastle / Sky Sports

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher was working for Sky on Saturday and said that he "loved" the "passion" displayed by Arteta during his post-game rant.

Nevertheless, Carragher appeared to disagree with the Arsenal manager's suggestion that awarding the goal had been outrageous.

"VAR didn't change a decision from the officials tonight on the goal," Carragher tweeted later on Saturday night. "They couldn't find enough evidence/camera angles to overturn the three incidents.

"They couldn't give the ball out if they don't know 100 [percent]. If there was no VAR it would still have been given as a goal."

VAR didn’t change a decision from the officials tonight on the goal #NEWARS

They couldn’t find enough evidence/camera angles to overturn the three incidents. They couldn’t give the ball out if they don’t know 💯

If there was no VAR it would still have been given as a goal. 🤷‍♂️

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 4, 2023

The Gordon goal was not the only major incident that was reviewed by the VAR during Saturday's game.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz was lucky not to have his on-field yellow card for a reckless challenge on Sean Longstaff upgraded to a red during the first half.

Saturday's defeat left Arsenal three points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table. 

North London rivals Tottenham - now the only unbeaten team in the EPL this season - can go five points clear of the Gunners by beating Chelsea on Monday.

Highlights: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal