As far as script writers are concerned, the Premier League is the gift that keeps on giving.
This SBOTOP observer had spoken of VAR woes at the weekend when events at Fulham, Sheffield and in Newcastle didn’t just seem farcical but, at times, plain wrong.
Less than 24 hours later, it was scarcely believable that more controversy would follow and in the fashion it did.
If the Premier League highlights that followed couldn’t quite match the 2016 Battle of the Bridge, events on Monday night certainly took the landscape of VAR to altogether different levels.
Here was me saying that sections of Spurs and Chelsea fans didn’t like each other very much, but this was proof that the players possibly weren’t so keen either.
In the words of their Swedish international, Dejan Kulusevski Spurs were “too hyped up” against Chelsea and it backfired.
Sure, they started in a blaze of intensity and purpose with Kulusevski putting them in front and rattling their opponents on Mauricio Pochettino’s return.
Yet they were guilty, in Kulusevski’s words, of being “too hyped up” and it led to errors as Chelsea dug out a foothold – none bigger than Cristian Romero’s red-card tackle on Enzo Fernández, which was spotted by the VAR and led to Cole Palmer’s penalty equaliser on 35 minutes.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds suddenly swung in the opposite direction and that was just the beginning.
In fact, in the opening 45 minutes alone with an extra 12 minutes added on, there were so many VAR interventions it was hard to keep up amidst four disallowed goals, three red-card checks and two penalty checks.
I could ask you is that how football should be: is this football has become?
Was there enough consistency?
Certainly, Destiny Udogie (who was later shown a second yellow card) and Reece James could have considered them fortunate to escape more serious punishment for earlier offences.
Either way, it ended up being a lousy night for the previously unbeaten North Londoners who lost Micky van de Ven to a hamstring injury and James Maddison to an ankle issue before the break.
They then conceded twice in stoppage time to make the 4-1 reverse seem far greater than it was, even with nine men.
Already attention is turning to who will replace the Spurs duo (or trio if Maddison doesn’t make it) for Spurs’ visit to Wolves this weekend.
In addition, it’s been announced Brazilian forward Richarlison is to have surgery on a pelvic injury after “suffering for eight months”.
He started seven of Spurs’ first 10 Premier League games this season, but now will be out for a fairly lengthy period.
Chelsea, meanwhile, welcome champions Manchester City to Stamford Bridge in the unusual position of being undefeated against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Spurs, yet losing at home to Nottingham Forest and Brentford (and I say that most respectfully).
There was also a blow for Manchester United when it was revealed that arguably their two best players last season (with a nod to Marcus Rashford) are expected to be out until the New Year.
Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro helped provide the spine for the team for much of last term and their extended absence will make their bid to climb up the table and go for cup glory a tougher task.
Then there’s Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta who has defended himself from the heavy criticism – and some would say deserved – he aimed at officials following their defeat at Newcastle last Saturday.
He said the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winner at St James’ Park was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
The Football Association has written to Arteta and Arsenal to “seek their observations” about his comments. Contrasting fortunes for contrasting side and, all the while VAR is thrown in, how can you take your eyes off the Premier League – even if it sometimes makes you despair.
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