Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Premier League 2019/20

#2 Surprise, surprise! VAR is in the Premier League spotlight!

VAR was in the spotlight at Old Trafford

Apart from the countless transfer sagas that dominated the off-season, there was another narrative that plenty of fans were intrigued by. The 2019-20 term marked the arrival of the much-maligned system aka VAR to the Premier League and subsequently, it caused quite a buzz.

However, with each progressing game, that positive excitement has turned into furore, especially with VAR adding another dimension to the game, an element that several felt wasn’t quite needed.

Despite the season being in its formative stages, there have been instances where the system has found itself in the eye of the storm, often harshly.

And, Monday represented another such scenario.

After Saka fed Aubameyang, the linesman instantly raised his flag, despite assistant referees being asked to refrain from doing so. With VAR, they’ve been given the license to let the move develop and overlook marginal calls, which could be rectified after numerous views by a set of referees hundred miles down the road.

But, in stark contrast to those instructions, the assistant referee immediately flagged for offside, thus, suggesting that the decision was pretty easy to make.

As it turned out, the Gabonese was at least a couple of yards onside as Harry Maguire tried to rush out.

However, fortunately for the footballing fraternity, better sense prevailed as Kevin Friend took VAR’s assistance and overruled the dubious call.

And, while United might complain that they’d been distracted by the flag, there was certainly no doubt that the right decision was arrived at, albeit courtesy an elongated path.

Ironically though, the VAR would again be splashed across all the back pages in England, despite fulfilling the purpose it was installed for.

After all, VAR and the Premier League is a love story the world has gotten but probably one it didn’t ask for.