- Kovacic a magnet for controversy at Emirates
- Fouled Odegaard and then Rice
- Webb admits he's fortunate
WHAT HAPPENED? Kovacic picked up a yellow card for a studs-up challenge on Martin Odegaard in the first half, a foul which Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville referred to as an "orange card" at the time.
A few minutes later, after escaping a sending off, he careered into Declan Rice - and didn't receive a second caution. The incidents caused plenty of controversy after the game, with Webb admitting the Croatian was lucky to stay on the field.
WHAT THEY SAID: Quizzed on the first foul, he said: "This is clearly a poor tackle and I'm confident if a red card had been given by Michael Oliver on the day, it would have been a very straightforward 'check complete', but he doesn't."
Webb also addressed the tackle on Rice, explaining: "Second yellows are something the VAR is not able to get involved in. But he was extremely fortunate to stay on the field. (Oliver) doesn't want to have a negative impact on the game by overreacting to something but it is also true that if you under-react you have a negative impact. He will realise the second one should have been a yellow card, which would have seen Kovacic sent off."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The incident arrives at a time where VAR is a hot topic of discussion, given the wrongfully-disallowed goal Liverpool winger Luis Diaz scored against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the month. The Reds would go on to lose the match against Ange Postecoglou's men 2-1, with VAR being heavily scrutinised following the incident after it was confirmed the goal should have stood.
IN TWO PHOTOS:
Getty.png?format=pjpg&auto=webp&width=3840&quality=60)
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR VAR? The technology will continue to be used across top leagues within football, as we look ahead to the return of domestic action in the hope that the next round of fixtures will not be overshadowed by the systems in place.