St. James’ Park, England – Last Sunday, Arsenal clash with Newcastle United don turn plenty heads for Premier League balance. The game start with wahala as VAR enter full gear, just 15 minutes into the match.
Eberechi Eze try find Bukayo Saka with one long ball. Saka no fit keep am, but that ball land for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope as Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal striker, show sharp reflexes. As he dey try dribble around Pope, e go down after slight collision. Referee Jarred Gillett point to the spot, but guess wetin happen? VAR come intervene!
After serious review, Gillett check the pitchside monitor, and e no take long before e change im mind. Na wah! The VAR waka come say, ‘Pope touch the ball’ before any foul fit happen. Final verdict? Drop ball. (Some fans fit talk say na the Arsenal way too live for dem title run.)
“Same old Arsenal, always cheating,” Newcastle fans dey sing as dem watch di drama unfold. Na serious shade o! Gary Neville wey dey commentate for Sky Sports add him mouth on the decision too, say: “Viktor Gyökeres kick am against Nick Pope feet, and Pope still block am. I dey torn on top this matter!”
As Arsenal dey complain, Nick Woltemade don put Newcastle ahead in the 34th minute with fine set piece wey set di crowd ablaze. E don make am clear say St. James’ Park no be joke for Arsenal. Dem don lose three of their last four visits. Na real stressful ground for dem! Dis match don add another layer to the Arsenal-Newcastle saga wey dey unfold.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta dey vex after di overturn, and e show am for im eyes. E feel say wetin happen no make sense, and football pundits dey join di chorus. Di matter go deep as dem dey argue whether contact dey enough for penalty or not.
As dem talk about di incident, pundit Joe Hart chime in with di wisdom: “If Pope touch di ball, then it no be penalty. But as we dey discuss this matter, wetin make dis whole situation priceless, na di back and forth over who get di right call. Is it a foul or simple goalkeeping skill?”
In conclusion, dis match show say football no be just about scoring goal, but all di drama wey fit happen for pitch. For Arsenal fans, if dem wan collect title again, dem suppose find way to break St. James’ curse! E fit be say next time dem go try to play dey game without di drama, but wetin football go be without di fun?
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