Gary Neville issues on-air apology as VAR statement released on Arsenal goal vs Chelsea

Gary Neville apologised to VAR and Pro Ref as Arsenal saw a goal chalked off against Chelsea for offside on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners found themselves a goal down at the Emirates Stadium through a Morgan Rogers wonderstrike just two minutes into the Premier League match.

However, Mikel Arteta's men were quick to put the pressure on their London rivals as they launched wave after wave of attack on Chelsea's area. Riccardo Calafiori thought he had levelled matters around 10 minutes after Rogers' opener, tapping home from close range after a frantic scrum in Emiliano Martinez's area.

Declan Rice provided a mid-height cross from the edge of Chelsea's box from a free-kick, Joao Pedro hashing a routine clearance as the ball bundled to Gabriel at the back post. While Martinez made the initial save, Ezri Konsa rattled the upright on the follow-up, with Calafiori latching onto the loose ball and firing from close range.

Celebrations in North London were short-lived, however, as a result of Konsa being in an offside position in the build-up, with VAR quickly ruling out the goal. Speaking on Sky Sports' coverage of the game, Neville was quick to criticise the decision, in the belief that officials had made a mistake.

He said: "He is going to disallow it...all hell's going to break loose. I disagree with it. There's no doubt that he's [Konsa] in an offside position, but for me, Emi Martinez has a clear chance to save it.

"I don't think he's interfering with him. If he did [get a touch on it] that would bring him into play."

As replays showed, Neville added: "So there now, there's no interference there and Konsa is offside at that point," before spotting his own error, prompting an apology from the pundit.

He added: "Oh, he touches it. Correction. Apologies to VAR and the PGMOL."

With the PGMOL no longer going by that name, Peter Drury was quick to correct his broadcasting partner for the afternoon. He explained: "Pro Ref now, Gary," as Neville added: "Absolutely. Pro Ref is it? Oh right, okay. Excellent."

Arsenal, however, did manage to equalise 25 minutes into the match through former Chelsea man, Kai Havertz.

The versatile forward picked the ball up on the right-hand side of the box, before cutting in on his left and curling low past an outstretched Martinez at his near post.