Arsene Wenger Reveals The Match He Would’ve Loved To Have VAR For

By The Editor
on 5th September 2019

Arsene Wenger still haunted by Champions League final defeat in Paris and wishes VAR was available for that game…

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Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed that he wished he had VAR for our Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2006 with Samuel Eto’o equaliser proving to be offside on the replays, he told beIN Sports.

After guiding us to our first European Cup final which took place in his home country, we took the lead through a Sol Campbell header despite being down to 10-men from the 17th minute.

We produced a stunning defensive display to keep an attack containing the likes of Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Deco at bay for over 70 minutes.

However, Frank Rijkaard introduced Swedish legend Henrik Larsson in the second half and the forward changed the game with two assists to win Barcelona the cup.

It was, however, the first of those assists which was timed slightly too late to catch Eto’o on-side and had VAR been around, that goal wouldn’t have stood.

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Asked which game he wishes he’d had VAR for, Wenger, without hesitation, said: “The final of the Champions League (2006), because Eto’o’s equaliser was offside.

“So that would have hugely changed the history of Arsenal Football Club.”

I don’t think a season goes by without Arsenal fans reminiscing about that night and wishing ‘what if’. Since then, we’ve reached one major European final – the 4-1 humiliation against Chelsea in May.

VAR in Paris would’ve certainly changed the course of our history – or at least its pedigree.