VAR Frustrates Emery as Villa miss Chance to top PL
Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, declared that VAR was “too much” after his team’s late goal against struggling Sheffield United on Friday prevented them from taking first place in the Premier League.
The visiting team began the Premier League season at the bottom of the standings, Villa of Birmingham having won their previous 15 home games.
However, Cameron Archer, who Villa sold to the Blades during the preseason, shocked the home crowd at Villa Park by scoring the first goal in the 87th minute from close range.
Substitute Zaniolo rescued a point for Villa with a header seven minutes into stoppage time.
Villa needed a win to go top of the Premier League for the first time since August 2011, having not led the table at this stage of the season for 25 years.
But they remained behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference despite dominating possession and having the better of the game´s chances.
Leon Bailey had the ball in the net early in the second half but it was ruled out by the video assistant referee, with VAR also rejecting three Villa penalty claims.
“I am very happy and very proud of the players,” Emery told the BBC.
“It was very difficult to keep our winning record. They defended really well.”
He added: “I accept VAR always. But only today I think it was too much. It was not necessary to review two or three times in the first half. And the goal, it was not necessary. Normally we can accept this goal.
“We are disappointed with the result today but we are accepting it. We have to focus for the next match against Manchester United, it will be incredible.”
“Being greedy, and the manner of their goal as well, (I wanted three points) but we’d have definitely settled for a point before the game,” Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder stated.
“With the players, there’s a lot to work with, and this result gives me great hope,” he continued.
Friday was Villa’s first experience with replay denial; when Vini Souza shoved Ollie Watkins, George Baldock stopped Watkins’ header from the resulting corner, and VAR denied another penalty plea.
When Watkins intercepted as United attempted to clear a corner and swapped passes with Jacob Ramsey in the 58th minute, Villa believed they had taken the lead.
The England striker then crossed for Bailey to sweep in but the goal was disallowed when Ramsey was ruled to have fouled Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham at the corner.
Fifteen minutes later, Baldock secured a second VAR reprieve for the visiting team through a handball review.
Three minutes before the end of regular time, United scored.
After Gustavo Hamer received a free kick from Vini Souza, the midfielder skillfully substituted John McGinn out of the match.
After that, the replacement cut the ball back so that Archer could score from six yards.
Alex Moreno’s header was saved by Foderingham, but Zaniolo’s header from Douglas Luiz’s cross gave Villa the equalizer in stoppage time.
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