VAR Drama in North London Derby as Eze Goal Stands
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze found himself at the centre of a major VAR offside controversy during the heated North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 23 November 2025. The forward's first-half strike, which doubled the Gunners' lead at the Emirates Stadium, was allowed to stand after a lengthy video review, despite the presence of Arsenal players in offside positions.
The Controversial Incident Explained
As Eze unleashed his shot, Arsenal teammates Martin Zubimendi and Leandro Trossard were positioned in an offside location, directly between the ball and Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The Tottenham shot-stopper immediately appealed, arguing that his view was obstructed. However, the Premier League Match Centre later released a statement confirming the referee's original decision, stating: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that there were no Arsenal players in the line of vision of the goalkeeper, and they made no movement to impact an opponent while in an offside position."
Replays indicated that while Zubimendi and Trossard were indeed offside, they were also situated behind Tottenham defenders Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso. This complex positioning proved pivotal in the final ruling, drawing immediate comparisons to a recent incident where Virgil van Dijk's equaliser for Liverpool against Manchester City was disallowed for a similar offside interference.
Pundits and Precedent Clash in Aftermath
The decision has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding the application of the offside rule in English football. On Sky Sports, former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand voiced his confusion, stating, "I will say, I don't understand how this [Arsenal players] doesn't affect the goalkeepers sight [on the second goal]. I'm not sure how that's not been looked at."
This incident highlights the fine margins and subjective nature of modern VAR interpretations. The contrast with the Van Dijk disallowed goal, where Andy Robertson was judged to have made an "obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper," underscores the lack of consistency that frustrates players, managers, and fans alike.
Eze compounded Tottenham's misery by scoring his second goal immediately after half-time, sealing a dominant 3-0 victory for Arsenal that sent them six points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The match will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for the contentious VAR offside call that continues to divide opinion.
