Arsenal would still have won the Premier League without VAR, according to research, but Chelsea and Liverpool would have faced tougher outcomes
Research suggests Arsenal would still have been crowned Premier League champions even without VAR, though they would have pipped Manchester City solely on goal difference.
Mikel Arteta’s side ultimately ended their wait to step up from regular runners-up to worthy champions with a match to spare.
And while many may highlight favourable VAR outcomes — such as West Ham being denied an equaliser that secured three points for the north Londoners — accusations of ‘VARsenal’ appear to fall wide of the mark.
According to AceOdds, Tottenham would have comfortably secured their top-flight status rather than needing a result on the final day, finishing nine points clear of the relegation zone.
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Spurs ultimately survived courtesy of Joao Palhinha’s strike in their victory over Everton.
Relegated West Ham would have escaped their fate without VAR, with Nottingham Forest instead completing the bottom three alongside Burnley and Wolves. The Irons’ 3-0 triumph over Leeds would have kept them up, sending Forest down on the final day as they drew with Bournemouth.
Chelsea’s campaign would have concluded on an even bleaker note. The mid-table Blues would have slipped into the lower half of the table without VAR’s intervention.
Their final-day conquerors, Sunderland, enjoyed a remarkable season, finishing seventh and securing Europa League qualification.
Without VAR’s intervention, the Black Cats would have still secured a respectable Premier League survival, albeit without the same distinction, dropping below local rivals Newcastle into 13th position.
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Bournemouth have experienced their own remarkable journey, securing Europa League qualification by finishing sixth. Without VAR, they appear to have leapfrogged Arne Slot’s Liverpool to claim fifth by two points, with the Anfield club suffering an even greater fall from grace after claiming the title in 2025.
Mikel Arteta is determined for his side to harness the momentum from their title triumph to push forward rather than emulate Liverpool’s trajectory.
“What I said to the boys is that this shirt now represents something else,” the Gunners’ boss explained.
“We are the champions and that brings a lot of confidence and a different kind of presence and energy to it. But as well another kind of responsibility as well.
“My job now, and everybody at the club, is going to be to live those standards now and achieve more and more because I think we are capable of winning.”
