Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall has expressed his frustration with the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and the lack of goal-line technology in football, following his team’s defeat to Bayern Munich. The Swedish manager believes that these technological advancements are vital for the fair play of the game and the integrity of results. In this article, we will delve into Eidevall’s comments, and explore how the implementation of such technology could impact the sport as a whole.
Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall, expressed his frustrations with the use of VAR and lack of goal-line technology in his team’s Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich. Arsenal lost 1-0, with Lea Schuller scoring in the first half. However, Arsenal had two efforts cleared off the line, which Eidevall believes may have crossed the goal line. He criticised the inconsistency in technology across different games, as Bayern chose not to pay for goal-line technology, whereas Arsenal will use it in the second leg.
Eidevall also felt aggrieved that VAR did not intervene in two separate incidents. The first was when he felt that Caitlin Foord’s shot had been blocked by a handball in the Bayern area, and the second when he thought that Rafaelle had been fouled in the box. Despite the loss, Eidevall was pleased with his team’s performance, dominated for long periods, and hit the woodwork with a Foord effort.
Arsenal now need to win by two goals in the second leg at the Emirates to progress to the semi-finals. Eidevall remained optimistic, saying that they need to be brave on the ball and push Bayern into their own half. He acknowledged that Bayern is a good counter-attacking team but felt that Arsenal had a good chance of progressing.
As the dust settles on Jonas Eidevall’s post-match comments, it is clear that the Arsenal boss had every right to be frustrated. The lack of goal-line technology and VAR is a recurring issue in football, and until it is fully embraced, incidents like the one witnessed in the Bayern Munich match will continue to rob teams of vital points. In the face of such challenges, it is up to the authorities to do more to ensure the game is played on a level playing field. Meanwhile, for Arsenal and Eidevall, the focus must now be on addressing their weaknesses and bouncing back from a disappointing result. Only time will tell if they can put this setback behind them and emerge stronger on the other side.
