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Manchester City sit three points behind Arsenal at the top, Brighton are in a Champions League spot and Newcastle drop to sixth… what the Premier League table would look like WITHOUT VAR intervention
Despite Mikel Arteta’s recent complaints about VAR, his Arsenal would be three points behind Manchester City in the Premier League table were it not for the use of technology.
The PGMOL admitted making a mistake and apologized last weekend after Ivan Toney’s goal against Arsenal stood after VAR failed to detect an offside in the build-up.
Arteta was understandably furious at the decision, saying he would “only be satisfied if he got the two points back” after the game finished 1-1.
While the technology may have let the Gunners down this time around, using it correctly has helped them this season as without it they would slip even further away from leaders City.
Had all the VAR decisions not been made, Pep Guardiola’s side would be three points better while Arsenal’s tally would remain unchanged.
Mikel Arteta has complained in recent days about an incorrect VAR decision against Arsenal
A new table has shown that the correct VAR decisions have helped Arsenal this season in the table
There would also be other marked changes to the league table as Newcastle would drop to sixth place while Brighton would be in the Champions League places in fourth place.
Despite his sub-par performances, Liverpool have benefited more than any other club from VAR this season and would be five fewer points without him.
Crystal Palace have gained four points thanks to technology, and would be 17th instead of 12th without it.
Manchester City would be three points better without the technology, while Newcastle would slip to sixth.
Brighton would currently be in the Champions League places without the use of VAR
Arteta’s team is one of four not to have had their points tally affected by VAR, along with Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Tottenham.
This alternate Premier League table will bring little joy to Arsenal, which fell to second in the league for the first time since August after losing 3-1 to City on Wednesday.
They are trailing only on goal difference with one game less, and will be looking to regain a three-point lead when they take on Aston Villa on Saturday.
| with VAR | without VAR |
|---|---|
| city of man 51 Arsenal 51 united man 46 new castle 41 Tottenham 39 Brighton 35 fulham 35 Brentford 34 Liverpool 32 Chelsea 31 aston villa 28 Crystal Palace 25 leicester 24 Nottingham Forest 24 wolves 23 Westham 20 leeds 19 everton 18 Bournemouth 18 Southampton 15 | city of man 54 Arsenal 51 united man 44 Brighton 39 Tottenham 39 new castle 38 fulham 33 Brentford 32 Chelsea 30 liverpool 27 leicester 24 aston villa 24 wolves 24 Nottingham Forest 24 leeds 22 Westham 21 crystal palace 21 bournemouth 17 everton 16 Southampton 16 |