Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers speaks on VAR after “frustrating” officiating decisions | OneFootball

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers said she would be happy to see the introduction of VAR after two key refereeing decisions meant that her side drew 1-1 against Chelsea.

Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum both had goals disallowed in the second half.

On Blackstenius’s goal being ruled out for handball, Slegers told Sky Sports: “We were very surprised. I don’t see any players calling for it. We watched it back. It’s hard watching it back from one angle, but it doesn’t look like handball, so that’s frustrating, of course.”

On Maanum’s late goal that they thought was a winner, she was more understanding, saying: “The angle is really hard to see. For me, in retrospect, watching it on video, being able to pause, it’s hard for me to see – it’s really hard for the referee on the pitch in action to see as well.”

Renee Slegers: It’s fine margins

And reflecting more broadly on the impact of marginal officiating decisions, Slegers said: “It’s a game where you see momentum shifts, Chelsea are on top of us at the start of the game, and we come back and we show such mentality in the game and so much quality. It’s fine margins. Then certain decisions become really big decisions which are out of our hands.

“If you were to ask me the question now, ‘Are you in favour of VAR?’ I would say yes.”

Arsenal fell behind after nine minutes with Alyssa Thompson putting Chelsea ahead.

Alessia Russo grabbed an 87th-minute equaliser for her 50th goal in the Women’s Super League.

Should VAR be in the game?

On the Sky Sports coverage of the match, pundit Izzy Christiansen reflected that VAR could not be introduced across the WSL as not every ground would be equipped to have it.

“Should VAR be in the game? Yes. Today is an example, a massive push, an acceleration towards the process of let’s hope that becomes a thing,” she said, suggesting that semi-automated offsides would have solved all the controversies at the Emirates on Saturday.

“For me, I’m not that sold on VAR coming in,” added Rachel Corsie.