Online Reporter
They did it their way. That is all that really matters. After a season where rival fans and even opposition managers have bemoaned Arsenal’s dark arts, Mikel Arteta’s side are Premier League champions.
Did they ride their luck? Arguably no more than most champions have, but still there are incidents which stick out that helped Arsenal end their 22-year wait, notably the seismic VAR decision at West Ham earlier this month. Make no mistake, there have been some brilliant wins, but here we are only concerned with the more controversial moments along the way . . .
Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal – 17 August 2025
Starting how they planned to go on, Arsenal’s first league goal of the season was from a corner, and it proved to be the winner at Old Trafford.
Riccardo Calafiori’s header in the first half came after Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir flapped at the ball while under pressure from Arsenal defender William Saliba.
It was debated then largely forgotten about, only until footage of this goal resurfaced after Arsenal’s win at West Ham, as it highlighted the inconsistencies in which grappling during corners has been handled in the Premier League this season.
United were also denied a penalty when Saliba appeared to foul Matheus Cunha, but protests were ignored and Arsenal went on to earn their first of 13 victories by a one-goal margin in the league this season. The i Paper’s verdict: The inconsistency rankles but the Bayindir mistake was early in the game. United had time to turn it around.
Everton 0-1 Arsenal – 20 December 2025
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel – you’ll be hearing from them again – went on to rule Everton were denied a penalty against Arsenal when the Gunners were leading in the second half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Again, it was Saliba involved, this time catching Thierno Barry after the Everton striker got to the ball first. “It feels as though certain clubs get those decisions and other clubs don’t,” Everton manager David Moyes said afterwards.
Again, it was a valuable 1-0 win.
The i Paper’s verdict: Arsenal were luckier here, but you need that luck.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Arsenal – 22 February 2026
Okay, admittedly the scoreline makes for one-way reading, but there was one crucial moment where Randal Kolo Muani thought he had equalised for a second time for Tottenham Hotspur.
Instead, Kolo Muani was adjudged to have fouled Gabriel with referee Peter Bankes not hesitating to blow his whistle.
It was soft, and Arsenal then twisted the knife with two more goals for another emphatic victory over their biggest rivals.
The i Paper’s verdict: The emphatic final scoreline, and Tottenham’s dreadful home record, mean Arsenal would probably have won anyway.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea – 1 March 2026
Another derby, another controversy – albeit this time at the Emirates. Chelsea fans were left feeling aggrieved after Declan Rice managed to avoid a penalty despite appearing to move his arm to deflect the ball while grappling with Jorrel Hato.
The Premier League Match Centre wrote on X that “there was no punishable handball offence with Rice challenging an opponent as the ball hit his arm.”
But the KMI Panel unanimously agreed that a spot-kick should have been awarded on the field following the incident.
The i Paper’s verdict: Chelsea equalised a few minutes later anway and still lost. So, next.
Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Arsenal – 4 March 2026
“There was only one team who tried to play football,” said Fabian Hurzeler after his Brighton side lost an ugly match to Arsenal.
Arteta responded “what a surprise” after learning of Hurzeler’s comments, and while Bukayo Saka scored the game’s only goal an incident in first-half stoppage time was later ruled as a missed penalty incident. Mats Wieffer was brought down in the box by Gabriel Martinelli, and though referee Chris Kavanagh and then VAR Michael Salisbury dismissed appeals, the KMI Panel went on to admit it should have been given.
Arsenal went seven points clear at the top with that, yep . . . 1-0 win.
The i Paper’s verdict: Arsenal fortunate again, but once more there was still a half to be played.
Man City 2-2 Nottingham Forest – 4 March 2026
On the same night Arsenal beat Brighton, rivals Manchester City slipped up at home to Nottingham Forest, albeit only after Erling Haaland was denied a penalty when his side were 2-1 up.
The incident with Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was waved away, and VAR did not intervene.
It led to City captain Bernardo Silva saying: “All the 50-50s have gone against us . . . What can Erling do? This season we are used to it. We know how it works.” The i Paper’s verdict: It should have been a penalty.
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal – 10 May 2026
Another 1-0 win, only sealed after what Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville labelled “the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League”.
With implications for the title race and relegation battle, Callum Wilson’s late equaliser was ruled out at London Stadium, with referee Chris Kavanagh overturning his on-field decision after going to the pitchside monitor.
Few argued Pablo fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, but plenty pointed towards the several incidents inside the box at the same time, including Declan Rice giving the “Heimlich manoeuvre” as one X post put it. Most importantly though for Arsenal, three points ensured the title race remained in their hands, with the Gunners then grinding out another 1-0 win over Burnley to push them closer to glory. That was the mark of champions.
The i Paper’s verdict: It was one of several fouls, but it was the right decision. Tin. Hat. On -iPaper.
