Gabriel escapes red card in VAR controversy as Arsenal come back to beat Chelsea

Arsenal secured an important comeback victory over Chelsea, winning 2-1 in the Premier League London derby. However, the result was overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy in the fifth minute. Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to kick Chelsea goalkeeper Martinez in the head during a scramble in the penalty area. Referee Chris Kavanagh did not award a foul, and VAR did not intervene. Wayne Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day, said Gabriel was extremely lucky to stay on the pitch. Rooney argued that replays clearly showed Martinez holding the ball while Gabriel swung his leg high and made contact with the goalkeeper's head. Ashley Young agreed and questioned why the VAR review process did not send the referee to the monitor. The controversy came after Chelsea took an early lead through Morgan Rogers inside two minutes. Arsenal responded well, with Kai Havertz equalizing against his former club in the first half. Martin Odegaard then scored the decisive goal in the second half to keep Arsenal's perfect league record alive. A red card for Gabriel would have meant a suspension for Arsenal, adding to their problems. Instead, Arsenal now turn their attention to a Champions League opener against Napoli. Chelsea, meanwhile, will face Leeds United in the League Cup as they look to bounce back. The match will be remembered not only for Arsenal's comeback but also for the unanswered questions around VAR. Rooney and Young both criticized the officials, and the debate over the decision is unlikely to fade quickly. Source: Goal.com.