He said at a press conference, “Those are private meetings that I cant explain sorry.”
The 41-year-old added, “It was done. I defended my opinion. I’m fully supportive of how we have to improve the game. We have the duty to do that. It’s good to discuss things in an open way.”
Asked if PGMOL realized they must improve, he said, “We want to do the game better. It’s about how we can improve on the touchline to make life easier from the players’ side, [the officials’] side, technology-wise and the clubs. It’s all about us. We’re all in this together, it’s not about separate people trying to do their bits. That’s not going to work, we have to do it together.”
While VAR has contributed to an increase in the accuracy of decisions in the Premier League, operational errors persist at Stockley Park, and referees themselves are not infallible.
The system’s drawback lies in its tendency to significantly slow down the game, disrupting the typically free-flowing experience. If rectifiable issues are addressed, the overall quality of the game could improve.
However, there’s a critical line being crossed with the disrespect shown towards referees, a responsibility that lies with both players and managers to correct. Failing that, more severe punishments may be enforced as a deterrent.
Looking ahead, Arsenal returns to Premier League action on Sunday at the Emirates against Brighton, a team that secured a 3-0 victory at the same venue in the closing stages of the previous season.
