Arteta wants Arsenal to be paid 2 points for VAR error
"I'm only satisfied if they pay Arsenal two points, but that certainly won't happen," Arteta said on February 14 in a press conference before the Premier League match against Man City. "Everybody makes mistakes, but that kind of mistake is unacceptable and it costs Arsenal two points. So we have to look for those two points in another game."
In the 1-1 draw at Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on February 11, VAR referee Lee Mason forgot, or did not, draw the offside line in Ivan Toney's equalizer in the 74th minute. If the line was offside with Christian Norgaard - who was in an offside position when he passed the ball to Toney - Brentford's goal would be disallowed and Arsenal could take the three points.
A day later, PGMOL director Howard Webb summoned all the member referees for an emergency meeting at Stockley Park, London, and wrote a letter of apology and explanation of VAR's mistake to Arsenal. Arteta appreciated the apology, really open and fair explanation from PGMOL, and said Arsenal received a lot of sympathy from many colleagues as well as football people.
"After analyzing the video, we were extremely angry and disappointed because it was not human error, it was a case of not understanding the job, the task," added Arteta. "But we have to move on. That mistake makes Arsenal players, members, fans stronger and more hungry to overcome the hurdles they put on us."
According to British newspaper Sportmail, the Premier League referees made a detrimental mistake in five matches, causing Arsenal to lose six points. In which, there were two matches where the referees admitted to VAR mistakes, both in the position of Mr. Mason.
VAR's latest mistake makes Arsenal close to three points by Man City and will lose the top spot, if they lose to the defending champion at Emirates today. When asked about this technology, Arteta replied: "When I saw the angry reaction of Howard Webb, PGMOL and the organizers, I saw that they wanted to do the best they could and understood everything that was at stake. I think. In the end, VAR will still help.Hopefully, VAR can make games better, more integrity, more professional, but the referees have to really pay attention to the important details because that's what matters. that affects the results".
Having worked at the Etihad Stadium for three years, Arteta understands how Man City operates and aims to emulate the success of the team under Pep Guardiola in the coming years. He said: "For Arsenal, the challenge is to get to the level of Man City and take that challenge to energize, with desire. That is the desired level and we are working towards it."
Since the beginning of the season, Arteta has been the coach to change the starting XI with the least, when making only 14 changes in 21 matches, including keeping the same starting XI in the last six matches. Arsenal will set a club record if Arteta continues to use the 11 players who started in the Brentford draw against Man City today.
With Leandro Trossard coming on and scoring the opener against Brentford, Arteta admits he would be more open to shuffling the starting line-up. "Obviously we want to give the players the opportunities they deserve. There will be changes - it will happen and very soon," the 40-year-old coach emphasized.
