Chelsea
In the aftermath of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the “Seeing Red” podcast hosts, Tom Canton and John Cross, delved into the controversial moments of the match. A focal point of their discussion was the involvement of Enzo Fernandez in Trevor Chalobah’s goal, which raised questions about whether it should have been ruled offside. The match saw Chelsea take a surprise lead, despite being reduced to ten men before the break, and the role of VAR in the decision-making process became a significant talking point.
Tom Canton said: “I did check first thing this morning just to sort of say, ‘Was that checked?’ and I can absolutely guarantee that that was checked, and it doesn’t always have to flash up on the screen, but those things are looked at. I checked with someone in the VAR control room and it was checked and it was cleared so it was cleared from the perspective that basic Fernandez, they felt, did not interfere with Mosquera’s ability to play the ball or clear it.”
John Cross added: “I’m a little bit 50-50 on it because I don’t want to get into the realms of always defending that position because I think it’s so obvious that Arsenal benefited from when Eze scored through a crowd of players deemed not interfering with Vicario so you have to challenge and balance everything on its own rights. I think it would have been unquestionably offside if Mosquera could have played the ball easily, and was then blocked off by Fernández and I don’t know what you thought, Tom, that basically I’m not sure that that the case entirely.”
The podcast hosts acknowledged the complexity of the situation, with Canton ultimately agreeing that the decision to allow the goal stood on solid ground. They highlighted the importance of evaluating each incident on its own merits, drawing parallels to previous instances where similar decisions had been made. As the podcast continues to offer insights and analysis, Arsenal fans can look forward to more engaging discussions as the team aims for success in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup. The “Seeing Red” episodes, released every Monday, promise to cover all aspects of the game, from VAR controversies to standout performances, ensuring no topic is left unexplored.
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