REVEALED: Premier League’s own independent panel makes decision on the three big calls from Newcastle win over Arsenal – with one unanimous red card vote… and a 4-1 split on the goal

• The Premier League’s independent panel voted on the recent VAR controversy 
• Newcastle’s win over Arsenal was marred by a multitude of dubious decisions 
• CHRIS SUTTON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a CLOWN – It’s All Kicking Off 

The Premier League’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel have given their verdict on the controversial VAR decisions from Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. 

The Gunners were beaten by the Magpies in contentious circumstances on Tyneside, when Anthony Gordon bundled home from close range despite three possible infringements in the build up.

VAR debated for four minutes while checking to see if the ball had initially gone out of play, an offside from Gordon and a foul on Gabriel.

Chiefs at Stockley Park eventually decided that no infringements had been committed as they awarded the goal – leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta furious and calling the goal ‘a disgrace’ before the club backed him in a statement.

However, it appears that the Spaniard’s frustrations are not shared by the league’s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel – who gave their verdict on the incidents.

The Premier League ‘s Independent Key Match Incidents Panel have given their verdict on the controversial VAR decisions from Arsenal ‘s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle

Controversy arose after fans claimed Newcastle’s Joelinton pushed Arsenal’s Gabriel in the back just moments before Anthony Gordon smashed the ball into the back of the net

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According to ESPN, the panel ruled that the referee and the VAR officials were correct to award Newcastle’s winning goal against Arsenal on Saturday.

The panel is comprised of five members, made up of three former players and coaches, plus one representative from the PGMOL and the Premier League. 

The panel’s ruling – which was voted 4-1 in favour of ‘no penalty’ – saw that ‘although Joelinton does have his hands on Gabriel, there isn’t enough to award a foul as Gabriel had made an action to play the ball before any contact’.

They also judged that the officials missed two red cards in the match. One for Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and one for Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. 

Sky Sports’ pundits said, at the time, that Havertz was lucky to avoid a red card for a dangerous challenge on Sean Longstaff earlier in the game.

In view of that incident, the panel said it was ‘a very dangerous challenge and the type of tackle that needs to be eradicated’.

Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes escaped a red card despite appearing to hit Arsenal’s Jorginho with a raised elbow – which the panel said was the wrong call.

In response to the panel’s ruling, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher disputed the calls and said that the two fouls were ‘strong yellows’ as opposed to reds.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: ‘Those challenges were strong [yellows] not [reds]. Havertz’s challenge is stupid but there is little contact. Guimares again stupid but it’s not an elbow. 

‘The amount of [red] cards in the game is ruining the spectacle. We have to try as much as we can to be keeping 11v11 on the pitch’.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was quick to dispute the panel’s decisions on social media

The panel said that Arsenal’s Kai Havertz deserved a red card for a tackle on Sean Longstaff

They also claimed that Bruno Guimaraes should’ve been dismissed for an elbow on Jorginho

Elsewhere, the panel voted unanimously that Sheffield United’s injury-time winning penalty against Wolves was the incorrect decision. 

During the clash last Saturday, Wolves’ Fabio Silva was adjudged to have fouled George Baldock in the box.

Contact appeared to be minimal as their boots came together but VAR didn’t reverse the penalty decision and Oliver Norwood converted to give the Blades victory in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil fumed: ‘There’s no way it’s a penalty, but there’s nothing else to discuss.

The panel also voted over the contentious incidents throughout Chelsea’s 4-1 win over rivals Tottenham on Monday night and said all of the decisions were correct. 

There were a number of dubious calls in the match, with many claiming that Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero – who were eventually sent off – should’ve been dismissed earlier in the game. 

Silva was penalised for a foul on George Baldock during the closing stages at Bramall Lane

Romero received a red card for this challenge on Enzo Fernandez during the first-half

Argentine defender Romero was dismissed in the 33rd minute of Spurs’ defeat to their London rivals after a high challenge on his compatriot Enzo Fernandez. 

However, some suggested that Romero was lucky to escape a red card just moments before, after he kicked out at Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. 

Meanwhile, Udogie received a yellow card for a two-footed challenge in the first-half on Raheem Sterling – which some claimed should have been a red. 

Former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg gave his verdict on all the incidents from the London derby on Monday.

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