The final Premier League game of 2017 saw Arsenal drop points in a controversial clash against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, with the referee responsible publicly confessing his error.
Alexis Sanchez put the Gunners ahead in the closing stages but a late penalty call against them allowed the home side to rescue a point.
Alan Pardew’s men hadn’t tasted victory since August but still managed to ruin the occasion of Arsene Wenger passing Sir Alex Ferguson with the most games in the history of the Premier League.
Mike Dean, the referee who cost Arsenal three points that night with his controversial handball decision, has acknowledged before the head of referees Mike Riley that he got it wrong.
“I know that he’s a very honest man and he knows that he was wrong,” said Riley.
“He awarded the penalty because what he saw on the field was an arm approaching the ball but another angle showed that it was the opposite.”
Even West Brom boss Pardew sided with the Gunners afterwards and was sympathetic about the decision.
Wenger’s complaints resulted in him being handed a three-game suspension and 40,000 pound fine.
On Monday night, VAR will be tested in England for the first time during an FA Cup third round tie between Brighton and Crystal Palace.
