Arsenal: 4 talking points from miserable Everton defeat

What Good is VAR For?

It feels wrong to blame VAR, or perhaps not blame it but at least mention it, since what is taking place on the pitch is Arsenal’s doing, not the technology. That doesn’t mean if it b*ggered off and never came back the world would be weeping into a family size tub of Ben & Jerry’s, though. It’s getting beyond silly.

That is now two matches in a row where Arsenal have been on the wrong end of a guess. And guess is the right word since the lines drawn up for Saka and Pepe for the goal against Fulham and Everton penalty are impossible to call. Drawing up the lines and still not being able to tell, we can defend the technology and state it’s just enforcing the rules but nobody in their right mind and realistically give an answer on those two occasions.

Furthermore, there goes on to be a whole sequence of passing after Pepe receives possession before Ceballos turns into an amateur c-list Shakespearean theatre performer. It’s so tiresome and affects every team up and down the country.

But we digress. Arsenal were lifeless, laboured and, worst of all, tired. There was some decent football on occasion but nothing the shout home about. Would one of Lacazette or Aubameyang made a difference? Quite possibly, but who is to know. All we know is what is on the pitch, and that isn’t anywhere good enough.