Leandro Trossard bemoans two points dropped by Arsenal as the title race hots up

Leandro Trossard has described Brentford’s equaliser on Saturday as a ‘tough one to take’ amid latest VAR controversy. 

The Belgium international scored his first Arsenal goal in a tight game that looked set to extend Arsenal’s lead at the top to eight points but they were pegged back by Brentford – conceding a third goal from a set piece in as many games, though it was revealed by Sportsmail that the goal should not have stood. 

Speaking after the draw that could afford Manchester City the chance to go top as soon as Wednesday night, Trossard bemoaned two points dropped but sought solace in the team’s ability to react in adversity. 

‘It’s nice to have the goal as it gets me going but after that it’s disappointing they got the equaliser. It’s a tough one to take. We did everything well,’ he told the BBC. 

‘To score against Brentford isn’t easy,’ he added. ‘We said before on the set-pieces they’re really good and today it happened again. 

Leandro Trossard scored the opener to put Arsenal on the verge of going eight points clear

The Emirates erupted but Arsenal were soon pegged back by a brilliant Brentford side

‘We have to learn from that. There’s a game again on Wednesday to turn things around. 

‘You don’t get your way every game. We have to work hard every single day. There’s a great atmosphere in the team and we have to keep that momentum going even when results don’t go your way.’

Trossard’s comments come after Sportsmail revealed Brentford’s equaliser would have been ruled out – had Lee Mason on VAR remembered to draw the lines. 

Result means Arsenal could surrender grip on the top of the league as soon as Wednesday

Christian Norgaard was in an offside position when he crossed for Ivan Toney’s eventual equaliser. There was a delay inside the ground as Mason sought to investigate every angle – but forgot the crucial element of putting the lines down on the pitch. 

It is a decision that could come to infuriate Arsenal, who had toiled for much of the afternoon against Brentford but had finally found a breakthrough. 

‘I just looked back and it is offside,’ Mikel Arteta said. ‘Have they explained why it wasn’t allowed? No. It is frustrating but they will probably give an explanation later in the week. Today we haven’t got one.’ 

VAR should have ruled out Ivan Toney’s goal against Arsenal on Saturday, said Chris Foy

Mikel Arteta admitted he was ‘frustrated’ after the game as he argued the goal should have been ruled out

Ivan Toney scored his 14th league goal of the season to grab Brentford a valuable point  

‘Ivan Toney puts the ball in the net and VAR Lee Mason obviously runs through the checks,’ said Mail on Sunday referee expert and PGMOL representative Chris Foy, who was in the Match Centre at Stockley Park on Saturday.

‘VAR was looking to see if there was an offside and whether Ethan Pinnock had blocked off Gabriel in the build-up. He looked at the possible foul and decided there hadn’t been one and therefore referee Peter Bankes hadn’t made a clear and obvious error.

‘However, in the build-up to the goal, Christian Norgaard — whose cross it is that Toney heads in — is in an offside position.

‘However, the truth is that VAR didn’t fully investigate with the lines. The lines, simply, didn’t go down. And that counts as human error.Had the lines gone down the goal would have been disallowed for offside.’

City host Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon bidding to close the gap to just three points before they travel to the Emirates on Wednesday evening in the first of two title deciders.