Arsenal assistant manager Stuivenberg and goalkeeper Ramsdale called for more consistency in the use of VAR, while Pep claims he didn’t see Arsenals’ penalty claim
By Kehinde Okeowo
Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-1 yesterday to earn their 11th straight win and increase their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 11 points.
The win was not without controversy as it engendered another round of a familiar debate after the inconsistency in the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came to the fore once again.
Arsenal assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale called for more consistency in referees going to the pitchside monitor after the game.
The hosts were aggrieved that after referee Attwell waved away a foul by Granit Xhaka on Bernardo Silva, VAR referred him to the monitor for a recheck, while the same was not recommended for the challenge of City goalkeeper Ederson on Martin Odegaard.
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A check took place but Attwell was not told to consult the screen because VAR could not definitively say it was a “clear and obvious error” by the referee. Instead, Attwell stayed with the on-field decision and awarded a corner.
Arsenal went on to lose the game to Rodri’s 93rd minute goal in a game they were far superior to Man City before the penalty and red card decisions went against them.
Stuivenberg, who stood in for Mike Arteta, who tested positive for Covid-19 was more irked at what he felt was inconsistent use of the monitor rather than whether or not they should have had a penalty.
He said. “It is a penalty but I am looking for consistency,
“We have VAR in place so why not check yourself as a referee? That did not happen so it is disappointing.”
Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale backed his manager, as he also criticised the decision not to send the referee to the monitor.
“I am basing it on both penalties – the inconsistency of going to the screen, the referee might have ruled it out straight away when he looked at it.
“But it is the fact he went to look at it. Both in real time he said no penalty, but he only gets told to look at one. Theirs was soft but he gets told to look and has given it.
“I am at the other end of the pitch for our penalty shout. The goalkeeper comes out with his foot and he either catches him or the ball. The Bernardo one, he stood him up and it is got given.
“Penalties are penalties, but for us it is getting told to look at the screen,” Ramsdale said.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on his part said the penalty against Arsenal was the correct decision but added that he did not see the incident at the other end.
In his words: “Bernardo Silva’s is a penalty. With Martin Odegaard, I took a shower and came here so did not see it [on the replay].”
