The incident that drew Henry’s ire occurred in the 78th minute, with the score level at 1-1. Arsenal were pushing for a winner when Bukayo Saka cut inside from the right and delivered a dangerous low cross into the box. The ball struck the arm of Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo — who appeared to have his arm in an unnatural position away from his body — inside the penalty area. Arsenal players appealed immediately, with Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice surrounding referee Michael Oliver, but after a VAR check, the on-field decision of no penalty was upheld.
Speaking on co-commentary for a major broadcast platform during post-match analysis, Henry did not hold back. “That is a penalty — clear as day,” he said. “The arm is away from the body, the ball hits it, it’s inside the box. VAR is there to correct clear and obvious errors, and this was one. How do they miss that? It’s frustrating because Arsenal were the better team, created more, and deserved more from the game. VAR should help, not hurt. This is why people lose faith in it.”
Henry’s strong words came despite Arsenal securing the three points thanks to an early goal from Saka (following Robert Sánchez’s blunder) and a late Martin Ødegaard strike. The former Arsenal captain acknowledged his bias toward the club he helped win two Premier League titles and four FA Cups but insisted his view was based on the rules. “I’m not saying it because it’s Arsenal — I’m saying it because it’s football. If that happens to any team, it’s a pen. The technology is meant to get these right, and it didn’t. Simple.”
The comments have intensified the post-match storm. While Chelsea fans raged over their own denied penalty (Raya’s handball on Nicolas Jackson, later admitted as an error by PGMOL), Arsenal supporters countered with clips of Adarabioyo’s arm position, arguing the Gunners were also short-changed. Social media debates exploded: “Henry is right — VAR failed Arsenal too. Two wrongs don’t make a right” and “Both teams robbed in one game? Officiating is a joke this season.”
Pundits weighed in heavily. On Sky Sports, Gary Neville agreed with Henry: “It’s a penalty — arm extended, ball hits it. VAR should have intervened.” Jamie Carragher added nuance: “It’s marginal on intent, but under current guidelines, that’s given most weeks. Consistency is the issue.” The PGMOL has yet to comment specifically on the Arsenal incident, though their earlier admission on the Chelsea non-penalty has only amplified scrutiny.
Henry’s intervention carries extra weight given his status as one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever players and his ongoing role as a respected voice in the game. His frustration echoed broader sentiment that VAR, introduced to eliminate doubt, continues to create it in high-stakes fixtures. Arsenal’s win kept them five points clear at the top, but the former striker warned that such decisions could cost them dearly in the title race: “You can’t rely on luck or mistakes from officials. You have to be so good that it doesn’t matter — but when it’s this obvious, it hurts.”
As the fallout from the derby continues — with two denied penalties, a red card to Pedro Neto, Sánchez’s error, and Gyökeres’ viral run — Henry’s blunt assessment has added fuel to the fire. Another north London clash, another VAR controversy, and the calls for reform grow louder.
