Arsenal were left incensed after Evanilson`s winning goal for Bournemouth was upheld by VAR following a protracted review period.
Bournemouth staged a comeback to defeat Mikel Arteta`s team 2-1, achieving their first-ever league double against the North London club.
Arsenal, the hosts, took the lead before halftime through a Declan Rice goal in the 34th minute, but Bournemouth, nicknamed the Cherries, reversed the scoreline in the second half.
Dean Huijsen equalised for Bournemouth in the 67th minute with a header from a long throw.
Evanilson then scored a messy second goal in the 75th minute, winning a tussle with Martin Odegaard during a corner kick.
Arsenal players disputed the goal, claiming Evanilson had handled the ball, prompting a VAR review.
Michael Salisbury, the VAR official at Stockley Park, upheld the on-field referee`s decision. The Premier League later issued a statement explaining the outcome.
The statement read: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with no conclusive evidence that Evanilson handled the ball before scoring.”
Former England goalkeeper Robert Green supported the decision, stating on BBC Radio 5 Live that the VAR had no conclusive evidence to overturn the goal for handball.
Notably, Evanilson was originally suspended for the match but his red card from the previous week`s game against Manchester United was overturned by the FA.
This result significantly boosts Bournemouth`s aspirations for European qualification, propelling them up to eighth place in the Premier League standings.
If Bournemouth maintain this position and Manchester City secure the FA Cup, Andoni Iraola`s team is likely to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Separately, many Arsenal fans expressed frustration with Mikel Arteta`s team selection before the match began.
Arteta opted for his strongest possible starting eleven against Bournemouth, despite a crucial Champions League second leg against PSG scheduled for Wednesday.
Key players such as Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Myles Lewis-Skelly were included.
This contrasted sharply with PSG manager Luis Enrique`s approach; he made ten changes to his squad for their recent Ligue 1 fixture, having already secured the title.
