Chelsea settled for a point against Arsenal after Enzo Maresca's side saw Moises Caicedo sent off in the first-half for a challenge on Mikel Merino
Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker felt the VAR made Moises Caicedo's red card challenge look worse.
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Gary Lineker has sympathised with Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo and questioned the use of slow motion for VAR following his red card against Arsenal. The Blues midfielder was given his marching orders during the first-half of Sunday's top-of-the-table showdown after a tackle on Mikel Merino.
Midway through the first-half, the Chelsea midfielder lunged in to win the ball back, catching the Spanish midfielder above the ankle, leaving both in a heap. Caicedo had been shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor but the VAR intervened, overturning the decision, and upgraded the sanction to a red card.
Lineker felt that the use of the technology made the incident look worse. He told the Rest is Football podcast: "I don't think they should have slow motion for things like that, it's a bit like when they have still shots of feet.
"His foot wasn't raised; it was a millisecond late, and the slow motion makes it look terrible. So I understand why they would possibly overturn the decision but I mean, really? I don't think that would have been a foul in my day, let alone a red card.
"I just think, slow motion distorts what actually happens because it's, 'hit the ball' [ricochet motion] and your foot bounces.
"If he's got his foot in the air, that used to be over the ball, red card, definitely. It looks terrible in slow motion but when I see it in normal, it's just a fraction [late]."
Despite the man disadvantage, Chelsea went in front when Trevoh Chalobah's header looped in to break the deadlock in the second-half. However, Bukayo Saka's cross was met by the head of Merino to equalise.
Moises Caicedo was sent off after VAR intervened.
Moises Caicedo was sent off after VAR intervened.
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Both sides had chances to snatch the points at the death, with the Gunners pushing to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. They failed to do so and couldn't capitalise on Manchester City's slip-up against Leeds United on Saturday with their lead at the top reduced to five points.
Merino admitted he was lucky to avoid serious injury following the "horrible" challenge from his Chelsea counterpart. "I felt my ankle go all the way but luckily I have very mobile ankles and body," he said.
"I knew it was a horrible challenge and it was going to be a red card."
Lineker's comments come almost two years after the former Match of the Day presenter was forced to backtrack on the technology. The 65-year-old had supported the introduction of the video assistant referee, in a bid to alleviate mistakes and cleanse football of its major talking points.
However in December 2023, he was made to admit his regret at being supportive of VAR after Kai Havertz's goal was ruled out against Aston Villa by VAR for handball. He said: "Well I have to say, I really don't like VAR very much anymore.
"I was one of those that advocated for it and I actually feel quite guilty and I was definitely wrong. It's spoiling the game."
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