sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Richarlison Equaliser Ruled Out For Offside Against Arsenal By Millimeters

Richarlison Equaliser Ruled Out For Offside Against Arsenal By Millimeters

The Brazil forward had two goals ruled out for offside as Everton failed to win for the ninth game in-a-row and he was seriously unliucky.

Everton fans were left irate after Richarlison's equaliser against Arsenal was ruled out for offside, by the barest of all margins.

Rafa Benitez's side headed into their Monday Night Football clash with Mikel Arteta's team absolutely desperate for some points, after their dismal display in last week's Merseyside derby.

They nearly took the lead in the first half when Richarlison headed home from a free kick, with just minutes of the opening period left.

VAR soon ruled the goal out for offside and there was a further slap in the face for the hosts, as Martin Odegaard opened the scoring late in injury time.

Just before the hour mark it looked like the Toffees were level, when Richarlison got in behind the Gunners' defence to receive a balled slipped through from Abdoulaye Doucoure and slotted it past Aaron Ramsdale.

The Toffees went off celebrating but the crowd were soon silenced by VAR deciding that the former Watford forward was marginally offside.

Fans were annoyed last season at the number of 'toenail offsides' that were given by VAR, leading to goals being ruled out for the tightest of calls over and over again.

At the beginning of this season the rules were changed to reduce the amount of issues, with the benefit now meant to go to the attacker.

Speaking about the issue referees' chief Mike Riley, said, "On marginal offsides we have effectively reintroduced the benefit of the doubt to the attacking player.

"The toenails and the noses of the players that might have been offside last season won’t be next season."

Everton did also get the benefit of VAR, when Ben Godfrey wasn't adjudged to have done anything wrong, despite most people believing he'd stamped on Takehiro Tomiyasu's face.

Richarlison did eventually get what he deserved, as he headed home the equaliser in the 79th minute, and this time there were no questions of offside.

Things didn't end there though, with Demarai Gray scoring with a stunning injury time strike, that Ramsdale couldn't have got close to.

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports

Topics: Arsenal, Everton, Premier League, Richarlison, VAR