Agbonlahor slams ‘inexcusable’ Arsenal error amid latest twist – ‘this can’t happen’
Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted that VAR should be held accountable if Arsenal lose out on the Premier League title by two points.
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Lee Mason’s error during Brentford’s goal was “absolutely inexcusable”.
The Gunners dropped two points against the Bees last Saturday (11 February) after Ivan Toney equalised in the second half to seal a 1-1 draw after Leandro Trossard’s opener.
However, Mason failed to draw the correct guidelines to check for offside on Ivan Toney’s equaliser, and the goal was incorrectly awarded.
The 51-year-old mutually agreed to depart the referees’ body PGMOL on Friday and will no longer officiate in the Premier League, putting an end to his 15-year career as a top-flight official.
Agbonlahor labelled Mason’s decision “unacceptable” and insisted that VAR needs to make sure the right people are in charge of the technology.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It’s absolutely inexcusable.
“In this day and age with VAR and an experienced referee like Lee Mason, how can he forget to draw the offside lines?
“If Arsenal lose the league by two points then VAR must be held accountable.
“This can’t happen in football nowadays, this technology needs the right people who don’t make mistakes.
“It’s not as though they missed it by a little bit, they drew the totally wrong lines and it’s unacceptable.“
Arsenal regained their spot atop the Premier League table with their 4-2 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Their next challenge comes in the shape of a visit to Leicester City next Saturday (25 February).
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