The big winners without VAR Arsenal ‘s lead at the top the Premier League increases from one point to two points without VAR. Mikel Arteta’s side lost 3-1 at Manchester United at the start of September, but had a Gabriel Martinelli goal disallowed for a foul in the buildup by Martin Odegaard in the 12th minute when the score was goalless. The Gunners’ superior form going into the game is a key factor in the VAR Effect Table concluding they would have won the game after scoring first. It’s a swing of three points to Arsenal and restores their 100% record.
Tottenham Hotspur have also suffered adversely from VAR, and are two points better off to send Antonio Conte’s men above Manchester City (points unchanged) into second position. Spurs had a penalty overturned in a 1-1 draw at West Ham when Aaron Cresswell had been penalised for handball; the draw at the London Stadium becomes an away win.
The biggest climbers are Leeds United and Everton , who are both elevated five places to move to seventh and eighth respectively. Leeds only gain one point, with their loss at Brentford becoming a draw. For Everton, the Merseyside derby becomes a 2-1 victory as VAR had ruled out a Conor Coady goal for offside, giving them an additional two points.
AFC Bournemouth are two points and four places better off, climbing up to sixth, after a VAR penalty awarded to Newcastle resulted in a 1-1 draw; the game is a 1-0 win to the Cherries. Wolverhampton Wanderers also move up four places to 13th, three points clear of the relegation zone, after their draw at home to Newcastle becomes a victory; Raul Jimenez had a late goal ruled out for a foul in the buildup which would have made the scoreline 2-0.
The final team to benefit in points are West Ham United . Most controversially they had a late Maxwel Cornet equaliser at Chelsea ruled out by the VAR for a foul by Jarrod Bowen , a decision which was later admitted to be a mistake and caused huge controversy. The Hammers have a net gain of one point across all decisions.
Brighton & Hove Albion , Leicester City and Newcastle United are the only teams to stay on the same points and league position.
This might come as a surprise to Newcastle fans, but while the home draw against Crystal Palace — when Tyrick Mitchell ‘s own goal was incorrectly ruled out by the VAR — becomes a Magpies win, they have also benefitted from more VAR calls than any other team, with the penalty won against Bournemouth and the disallowed Wolves goal giving them additional points.
Fulham climb a place into fifth, though remain on the same points.
The big losers without VAR Look away, Manchester United fans, because it’s the Red Devils who have had the best of VAR this season and lose the most points without it. The key decision is that game against Arsenal, with the early VAR decision in their favour meaning a victory becomes a defeat in our calculation.
Liverpool only just cling on to a place in the top half of the table after they lose the point from the Merseyside derby, falling two places into 10th.
Other teams actually drop further down the table even though they have lost fewer points, with Chelsea and Brentford both dropping two points and slumping five places into 12th and 14th respectively. Chelsea lose two points as the win at home to West Ham becomes a draw, while Brentford’s victory at home to Leeds is judged to be 2-2 without VAR calls.
Nottingham Forest also lose two points without VAR, as their 1-0 win at home to West Ham becomes a draw — the Hammers had a goal disallowed for a foul by Michail Antonio .
Crystal Palace are the only other team to lose points without VAR, as the draw at Newcastle is turned into a loss. That one point puts Patrick Vieira’s men on the brink of the relegation zone and only out of the bottom three over West Ham on goal difference.
Southampton and Aston Villa both drop one place, into 15th and 16th, though their points tally is unchanged.