Wenger angry with VAR vote

Arsene Wenger believes the Premier League is "behind the rest of the world" following the decision not to implement VAR in next season's top flight.

The Gunners boss was left frustrated that his side were not given a penalty during their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday.

With the visitors 1-0 up at St. James' Park, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw a shot deflected over the crossbar by defender Jamaal Lascelles, who blocked the ball in the box with a raised hand.

Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a corner rather than a spot-kick and Newcastle levelled the scores just 12 minutes later through Ayoze Perez.

With Premier League clubs having voted to restrict VAR to cup competitions once more in 2017-18, Wenger thinks such incidents will continue to undermine matches.

"The referee is the referee," he told a news conference. "What you want is to help the referee. Unfortunately, the Premier League has decided not to go for VAR. I think that is a very bad decision.

April 15, 2018