#VARDebate
The Gunners feel cheated by VAR.
Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal teammates were once again in the spotlight following their 2-0 loss to West Ham on Thursday night. Arsenal’s night was cut short after 13 minutes of play after an attempted clearing from Gabriel and Zinchenko landed in the path of Bowen, who squared the ball into Soucek, who put the Hammers 1-0 up.
After a lengthy VAR review, the goal was awarded, and Arsenal was given the short end of the stick, falling behind 1-0. According to the replays and the innumerable screenshots that have gone viral on social media, the ball was out of play before Bowen squared it into the box and should not have stood. Now, I get why it was awarded; technically, because Bowen’s body was in the way of the camera, you can’t 100% prove the ball went out of play, and after all the hoopla this year about balls going in and out of play, I see why it was given, but I disagree.
With the same thing happening, you’d think the Premier League would follow.
The same can be said for offside technology, which was used in the World Cup and is now used in leagues all around the world; why hasn’t the Premier League invested in it? Something that is nearly impossible to go wrong, something that does not rely on humans, who plainly make mistakes from time to time, but still continue to use the antiquated system and wonder why there are constant difficulties.
It feels shady to me, and I don’t understand why they wouldn’t make their jobs easier and the game better by doing so. With the game continually evolving and rules changing year after year, why can’t they create adjustments that truly benefit the game rather than damage it? Why have it at all if they can’t get it right?
I hate to blame the officials, and yes, we should have been more clinical with our chances, but that first goal took a lot of the pressure off West Ham and left us chasing an equaliser, changing the entire mood of the game, and although Arsenal kept their heads down and pushed, it changed the game. If the goal was ruled out, I believe the game would end differently.
What are your thoughts, Liverpool fans?
