Bukayo Saka suffered a gruesome blow during Arsenal vs. Bournemouth.
Bukayo Saka VAR controversy: Arsenal star suffered a poor tackle
Bukayo Saka VAR controversy has overshadowed Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Bournemouth on Saturday, May 4. Arsenal managed a comfortable 3-0 Premier League home win with Saka (46′ P), Leandro Trossard (70′), and Declan Rice (90+7′) finding the back of the net for the Gunners.
However, during the game, Saka was on the receiving end of a high challenge from Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie. The winger was left with a graphic cut on his shin. VAR, though, didn’t check the foul for a potential red card and Christie wasn’t even booked. Several posts have since percolated on social media quizzing fans whether Christie deserved to be sent off.
Arsenal, though, did what they needed to do. Despite a blunt first-half, Mikel Arteta’s side managed a big margin win in the second-half and retained their spot in the Premier League summit. They now have 83 points from 36 matches.
Bukayo Saka VAR controversy: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta shares his take
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that he didn’t watch the controversial challenge on Bukayo Saka. Arteta further added that he purposefully did so he didn’t make any controversial comment. Speaking to the media after the game, Arteta said (via football.london):
“The honest answer is I haven’t seen any of the incidents because I knew you were going to ask me. I did it on purpose. The analysts said do you want to watch it and I said no because then I can tell the truth. I haven’t seen them so I cannot comment or have an impression. The one on David, the foul, I cannot see because it’s too far. The one on Bukayo, is it on purpose or not? I don’t know so difficult for me to judge.”
Arsenal, though, got the job done. They have a difficult outing in hand next as Arteta’s side face Manchester United at Old Trafford on May 12.
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