Referee chiefs respond to Arsenal fans’ Howard Webb conspiracy theory after William Saliba red card leaves supporters angry – as Jamie Carragher deletes tweet asking very important question

Howard Webb did not influence William Saliba’s red card in Arsenal’s defeat at Bournemouth, according to PGMOL.

The Frenchman was sent off in the first half for denying a clear scoring opportunity after a tug on Evanilson near the halfway line.

Saliba was initially booked for the foul, but the decision was overturned after referee Rob Jones was recommended to carry out an on-field review.

Sky cameras showed Webb, who was sitting in the stands, using his phone and an earpiece while VAR reviewed the incident.

However, PGMOL claims the head referee was listening to the communication between officials and was not involved in the decision to send off Saliba, according to the Times.

Howard Webb would not have influenced William Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth

Saliba would have denied a clear chance to score after a tug on Evanilson

The Frenchman was initially cautioned for the infraction before the decision was overturned.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned Webb’s involvement in a now-deleted post on X.

He wrote: “Was Howard Webb involved in the decision making regarding Saliba’s red card?? “.

Saliba’s red at the Vitality Stadium was the third time Arsenal have been reduced to 10 men in their eight Premier League matches so far this season.

And Mikel Arteta believes his team is responsible: “We are obviously very disappointed with the result and gutted because we have to play again in this context.” This time was even more difficult than the previous two we faced this season.

“Playing 65 or 68 minutes with 10 men at this level is simply an impossible task. It’s an accident waiting to happen, not to score points. I can’t fault the team for their effort, their commitment, their intelligence to play the way we need to.

“There is obviously a great moment with the 0-0 when we have a big opening, one on one with the goalkeeper. We cannot score and at the other end we do that. We have to blame ourselves.

“Football is a sport where mistakes are part of it. Tonight we made two big mistakes which unfortunately cost us the match.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned Webb’s involvement in now-deleted post

Mikel Arteta believes his team are to blame for not being clinical in front of goal

On Saliba’s decision to oust Evanilson, Arteta added: “It’s a split-second decision you have to make.

“The attacker is on his back. Obviously, he doesn’t expect the ball to suddenly come towards him. He just made a decision and that’s it.

Asked if Arsenal would appeal the decision, the Spaniard replied: “That decision has been changed and now it’s not going to change twice. That’s it, decision made.

“We have to accept it, move on and feel this pain that we are feeling right now on Tuesday (against Shakhtar Donetsk).”