VAR frustration as Chelsea and Arsenal play out stalemate
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 10/01/2018 at 22:53 GMT
Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, Stamford Bridge - Chelsea 0 Arsenal 0
nglish referee Martin Atkinson stops play to consult with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on January 10, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
Chelsea and Arsenal played out a dour 0-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with most of the focus on VAR as fans lamented the number of times it was consulted.
Jack Wilshere, named as Arsenal’s captain for the match, created the best opportunity of the first half when his clever ball over the top of the Chelsea defence found Alexandre Lacazette but the out-of-form striker blazed over.
VAR - making its debut in the Carabao Cup - was used when Ainsley Maitland-Niles went down under Victor Moses' challenge in the Chelsea penalty box, but after a delay referee Martin Atkinson signalled for a goal-kick - the correct decision. Atkinson also consulted VAR when Calum Chambers and Cesar Azpilicueta tangled at an Arsenal corner, only for the referee to give both players a talking to.
Chelsea stepped up their search after the restart but couldn’t convert their dominance into a goal, while Arsenal suffered a blow as Wilshere limped off with a leg injury.
Andreas Christensen twice went close for the hosts but headed over from close range on both occasions, while Cesc Fabregas’ cross was deflected onto the post in the closing stages.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/01/10/2242907-46756930-2560-1440.jpg)
Chelsea's Danish defender Andreas Christensen (3rd R) misses with this headed attempt during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on January 10, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal introduced Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez midway through the second period, but the Chilean failed to inspire his side in attack.
Atkinson again consulted VAR when Danny Welbeck appeared to catch Fabregas in the area with only minutes remaining, but again, after some time, the spot-kick wasn’t awarded.
The sides meet again on January 24 at the Emirates Stadium to decide who will contest the Carabao final in February.
TALKING POINT
The usage of VAR: The video assistant referee was used to assess two penalty appeals - and got both right. However, supporters are concerned that referees will consult with VAR too often, causing needless delays in the game. If used for key moments only, surely VAR is a good thing for football, providing the decision is made relatively quickly. Will that be the case though? Only time will tell.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/01/10/2242862-46756030-2560-1440.jpg)
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere with referee Martin Atkinson
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea): Started the game quite sharply and was Chelsea's most creative player for the majority of the match, though the Belgian tired in the closing stages.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/01/10/2242839-46755570-2560-1440.jpg)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) and Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Courtois 6, Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 6, Rudiger 6, Moses 7, Kante 7, Fabregas 7, Drinkwater 6, Alonso 6, Hazard 7, Morata 6. Subs: Bakayoko N/A, Willian 5, Batshuayi N/A.
Arsenal: Ospina 7, Bellerin 7, Chambers 7, Mustafi 7, Holding 7, Maitland-Niles 5, Wilshere 7, Xhaka 6, Iwobi 5, Welbeck 5, Lacazette 5. Subs: Elneny 5, Sanchez 5.
KEY MOMENTS
21’ - OVER! Wilshere dinks a clever ball over the top of the Chelsea defence which Lacazette latches onto. But from the right-hand side of the box, the Frenchman blazes over and it's a pretty wild effort. Lacazette could do with a goal.
38’ - VAR IS USED! Iwobi rather snatches at a shot from but Courtois can only push it back into play. The loose ball falls to Maitland-Niles who appears to be caught by Moses inside the area... Martin Atkinson consults his team behind VAR and the decision goes against the Arsenal man, goal-kick.
48’ - OVER! Best chance of the game. Kante's cross is flicked on for Christensen at the back post but it's a defender's finish as he heads over the bar from a few yards out.
57’ – WILSHERE INJURED! Wilshere goes to ground with an ankle injury and he is going off. Mohamed Elneny is his replacement.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/01/10/2242910-46756990-2560-1440.jpg)
An injured Jack Wilshere of Arsenal reacts during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 10, 2018 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
58’ - CHANCE! Mustafi mis-times his jump and Morata is released! Ospina rushes out from his goal, but from a tight angle, the Spaniard can only poke it into the side-netting.
66’ - CLOSE! Arsenal can only clear Alonso's cross as far as Moses who shoots... but it takes a deflection off Mustafi. Fabregas delivers the resulting corner but Christensen glance his header wide of the target, with Ospina in no man's land.
88' - OFF THE POST! Chelsea are denied by the woodwork! Willian to Fabregas, who dinks a cross into the Arsenal box. It deflects off a defender, onto the post and out for a corner.
89' - PENALTY SHOUT! Welbeck appears to catch Fabregas inside the box and Martin Atkinson uses his headset to have a word with his assistants. After some delay, he signals for a Chelsea corner.
KEY STATS
- Francis Coquelin has played more games under Arsene Wenger than any other outfield player who hasn't scored.
- This is the first time that two Premier League clubs have drawn four meetings with each other in a single season since Blackburn vs Sunderland in 2002-03.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement