Emery believes that the VAR system will be implemented in the Premier League next year
Arsenal manager Unai Emery refused to point fingers at the officials and blame referee Michael Oliver for two contentious penalty decisions that went against the Gunners. Ainsley Maitland-Niles put the visitors in the lead early in the first half before Roberto Firmino’s quickfire brace followed by Sadio Mane’s goal and Mo Salah’s penalty made it 4-1 in favour of Liverpool.
Firmino converted from the spot in the second half to complete his hat-trick after Dejan Lovren appeared to have been nudged over by Sead Kolasinac.
And Emery has pointed to the importance of the VAR system and how it can help the referees to make better decisions.
“The two last goals, two penalties, I think it’s a lot for us,” Emery told reporters. “I think VAR is important – it’s coming next year because I think it’s going to help the referees to take better decisions.
“The result is clear. It’s not [because of] the referee. There were some positives on the pitch – for example, Ainsley [Maitland-Niles] played as a right winger and scored, working well.
“Also [Alex] Iwobi, after some matches not playing very well, today he played 90 minutes with a good performance, but defensively we need to be stronger, to work.
“Our defensive moments in our box, it’s my responsibility and then we need the balance. We need to keep the balance in the middle.
“We lost 5-1, we need to keep the balance in the middle, be serious and continue on Tuesday with a big match at the Emirates.
“We need to show our supporters there we are standing up after the result.”
