Arsenal, the losers in their match against Manchester United, are not settling down well with the results and are attacking the VAR decisions which they say is the main reason for the loss.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli netted a goal that looked perfect in the run-up of the game but Manchester United players urged the referee to have a relook at the goal on the VAR.
The VAR has been criticised lately by clubs like Tottenham and Liverpool for what pundits are calling wrong decisions.
While the defeat to Manchester United has stopped Arsenal in its winning streak this season where it won 5 out of 5 before the match, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is furious.
Martin Odegaard was adjudged to have fouled Christian Eriksen in the build-up to goal after VAR Lee Mason advised referee Paul Tierney to review the tackle.
Odegaard said, “It’s never a foul. It’s a soft challenge.” But the referees disagreed with him.
Arsenal appeared to have taken the lead in the 12th minute when Martinelli finished superbly after being played through by Bukayo Saka after Christian Eriksen was robbed of possession by Odegaard.
As we know, the goal was disallowed after the referee checked the VAR.
Arsenal’s boss Arteta says the refusal to give the goal was “difficult to accept” and he now joins the growing number of managers who are speaking against the VAR.
He says it’s a lack of consistency. Last week, Aston Villa got a goal when there was a foul on Aaron Ramsdale. Referees then believed the foul was a soft one and thus it was not a foul.
This time around, it’s the contrary and Arsenal feels they were robbed of a perfect goal.
At this rate, the VAR is looking more and more like an anti-sports tech, which is a pity because it did well over the years.