Here at FourFourTwo, we're keeping a VAR table. That's a version of the Premier League table, without all the goals that the Video Assistant Referees have either awarded or chalked off.
If VAR ruled out a goal, we've added it back; if they awarded a penalty which was later scored, we've chalked it off. We've not changed red cards, obviously. So while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has raged about the state of refereeing, while the PGMOL has apologised for a human error to Liverpool and while just about every fan has had their say on the state of officiating, do decisions really level out over the course of a season?
Well, you may be surprised by some of the findings…
VIDEO: What REALLY Happened With VAR In Liverpool vs Tottenham
So according to some fans, referees have shown some bias to Tottenham this season – but the VAR table doesn't reflect that, with the Lilywhites denied points in their opening weekend encounter with Brentford and the North London Derby, when VAR didn't give them a penalty against the Gunners. Of course, the VAR table also doesn't account for Luis Diaz's disallowed strike in that controversial game, given that the Colombian's goal was overruled as offside by the on-field officials.
Arsenal, too, are slightly higher on the VAR table than in real life, since they were denied a point in the game against Newcastle United. But aside from that NLD goal, remember Alejandro Garnacho's strike at the Emirates, which he thought to be the winner? It perhaps would have been if the on-field ref had stuck with his decision: it doesn't make a difference in our VAR table, though, given that Arsenal won 3-1.
There are other big decisions that haven't had any impact on the VAR table – and this is where the table itself shows its flaws.
For example, Monday night's chaotic fixture between Tottenham and Chelsea saw two VAR overturns but that wasn't half the story. The first of Spurs' two red cards was decided by VAR, which changed the entire game.
Likewise, Rasmus Hojlund's goal against Brighton & Hove Albion was ruled out by VAR for the ball going out of play. Had that been allowed to stand, it would have been an equaliser just before half-time. Who knows how that game would've played out?
We'll never really have a true picture of what the game would look like without the intervention of technology. But for now, this is the best we've got…
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