Arsenal top unwanted Premier League table after damning referee verdict

Why do we get into football? Beautiful goals, amazing moments of skill, or perhaps the unbridled joy of a crowd when a massive goal is scored. Well, we challenge you to find someone whose reason for loving the beautiful game is refereeing controversy, even though that seems to be the dominant talking point of modern times.

On Wednesday, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel voted unanimously, five to zero, that Sunderland were incorrectly awarded a spot-kick when Arsenal visited the Stadium of Light earlier this month. Dan Ballard got Ezri Konsa into an arm lock before, as Mikel Arteta put it, a "judo roll" made it appear as though the Northern Irish international had been fouled.

Referee John Brooks pointed to the penalty spot and, scandalously, the VAR team saw nothing wrong. Luckily, David Raya saved Enzo Le Fée's subsequent attempt and the Gunners won 2-0 on Wearside but, even so, Arteta was furious after the match.

This means that, after only five matches this season, the KMI have decided that three controversial errors have gone against the champions. The other two both occurred in the same action. In stoppage time at Villa Park, Bruno Guimarães was clearly brought down by Ian Maatsen in the box.

Play on was Jarred Gillett's verdict, but it was later confirmed that the Australian official should have not only awarded the Gunners a spot-kick, but that the Dutch left-back should have been dismissed.

Again, Arsenal managed to win that match, so it had no material impact, but is certainly an alarming trend. So, how does this misfortune compare to the rest of the Premier League?

Premier League clubs ranked by confirmed refereeing errors (2026/27)

Note: Coventry, Hull, Everton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Ipswich, Tottenham, Fulham, Newcastle and Chelsea, have had no confirmed refereeing errors go for or against them.

The Gunners are the only Premier League club to have had multiple refereeing errors go against them so far, according to the KMI. The most egregious decision of the season to date, without question, is of course Erling Braut Håland's winner in the Manchester derby. How it was deemed that Enzo Fernández was not interfering with play, while attempting a diving header, remains baffling.

Then, as recently as Sunday, Elliot Anderson very clearly swatted the ball away with his right hand during Manchester City's 5-3 win over Sunderland. Despite being the most obvious deliberate hand ball in the history of Association football, no penalty. This will surely be a second decision that the KMI determine has gone in Man City's favour already.

With the Gunners and the Sky Blues set to go head-to-head for the title, again, Arsenal fans will hope that these fine margins do not come back to haunt them.

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