Premier League issue statement as new VAR system intervenes at Arsenal vs Brentford

Premier League issue statement as new VAR system intervenes at Arsenal vs Brentford

The Premier League brought in semi-automated offsides this week and the new system made its mark at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening during Arsenal’s clash with Brentford

Kieran Tierney of Arsenal celebrates with team mates Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice after scoring a goal that is later disallowed due to an offside

Arsenal celebrated taking the lead against Brentford on Saturday night thanks to Kieran Tierney – but their joy was short-lived as the new semi-automated offside system finally adopted by the Premier League this week made its presence felt at the Emirates Stadium.

Tierney looked rather sheepish as he found the net following Ethan Nwaneri’s delicious cross, a sign that the Scotland international knew he was perhaps in an offside position. However, the on-field officials initially allowed the effort to stand.

However, when VAR got involved, making use of the newly-adopted technology, Tierney’s effort was swiftly cancelled out. Arsenal fans made their feelings on the decision known, jeering as it was ruled out – despite it being correct.

A statement from the Premier League Match Centre on social media declared: “VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Tierney was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”

The Premier League announced in the build up to the weekend’s fixtures that it would finally be making the move to using semi-automated offsides.

The technology, which was originally intended to be introduced after one of the autumn international breaks in October or November, eventually made its debut in English football in seven of the eight fifth-round FA Cup ties at the start of March.