The Premier League have rejected the introduction of VAR next season, instead opting for further testing in the cup competitions.

The BBC report that the Premier League clubs voted against the system. Their article referenced problems with the testing so far, saying:

“In Manchester United’s victory at Huddersfield in the last 16 of the FA Cup, for example, on-screen lines used to adjudicate on an offside decision were curved and distorted.”

This is actually not true, as the BBC themselves reported. Hawk-Eye stated that the ‘squiggly line’ shown on TV wasn’t actually used by the VAR assistant. Nonetheless, the false story prevails, and it’s apparently now part of the reason the clubs don’t want VAR.

I’d hope Arsenal are one of the clubs pushing for technology, given Arsene Wenger’s stance on it. Just in case they aren’t though, here are some of the most obvious examples from this season for why they should be:

2Offside goal vs Manchester City (A)

This City side don’t need much help taking teams apart, but they got it from the assistant referee at the Etihad. David Silva was clearly offside when he set up Gabriel Jesus’ goal at a crucial point in the match. Arsenal were 2-1 down, with the momentum, but that all fell apart at 3-1.

It would’ve taken no more time to review the goal than City spent celebrating it, and who knows what could’ve happened after it was disallowed?

No penalty vs Manchester United (H)

Once again, this wasn’t necessarily an easy call to make in real time from the referee’s position. He can’t tell if there really was any contact on Welbeck. However, you only need to see one replay for it to be completely clear that it’s a penalty.

There’s no contact on the ball, the Arsenal striker has his legs taken out, it’s an easy call for a VAR assistant. United won the match 3-1.