‘VAR really helped them yesterday, if not, we would have disgrace them at their Home’: Steve Cooper brutally criticized VAR for favouring Arsenal yesterday

Steve Cooper has criticised VAR for an incident involving Declan Rice in Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League win against Nottingham Forest. The Gunners looked to be easing to victory after Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka both scored in the space of six first half minutes.

However, a tense second 45 was made worse when Taiwo Awoniyi pulled a goal back with just eight minutes of normal time remaining. But, backed by the Emirates Stadium crowd, Arsenal were able to hold out and secure their first three points of the campaign.

Nottingham Forests’ second half display kept them in the contest with many aggravations being felt that a penalty was not awarded for an incident involving Rice.

A corner met by Willy Boly struck the hand of the 24-year-old at point-blank range, but it was revealed that VAR did not even look at the incident let alone recommend Michael Oliver to have a look.

After the game, Cooper delivered his verdict on what could have been a key moment in the game with the Nottingham Forest manager admitting he felt the referee was let down by VAR.

“We’re not going to cry about it but I was really surprised that the Declan Rice handball on Boly’s header wasn’t at least checked by VAR,” he told TNT Sport.

“I’m not blaming Michael Oliver, there’s no way he could’ve seen it but I think it’s definitely worth a check, worth a look at. It’ll be debated, some will say yes, some will say no but for us, especially because we’re away from home as well, we were quite surprised it wasn’t looked at so it’ll be interesting to see what VAR think about it. For me, they’ve let the referee down.”

While from the perspective of the visitors, Rice’s biggest involvement was in that incident, to Arteta he was influential, not just on the pitch, but also with supporters after asking them to stand in the early stages of the game to get behind the team.

“It’s very natural,” Arteta said when asked about the moment. “You’ve seen him today, I don’t know if it was after two minutes or after 10, but the way he’s moving, the way he’s coaching and integrating in that dressing room I think he’s enjoying the position.

“He should have scored probably two goals today. So more of the same. He’s not thinking, he’s just acting and I’m really pleased with what he’s done.”