By Keith Hackett

22nd Apr, 2023 | 10:00am

Ex-Fifa official urges big-money Premier League VAR overhaul which will benefit Arsenal

Keith Hackett has again pleaded for the introduction of semi-automated offside technology in order to help wronged sides like Arsenal – with the Premier League still reluctant to bring it in.

The ex-Fifa and English top-flight referee was speaking exclusively to Football Insider in the wake of new changes made to ensure incidents like a missed offside during the Gunners’ clash with Brentford in February are not repeated.

As per The Athletic (17 April), the Premier League are recommending the addition of four cameras positioned near each penalty area at every ground in a bid to improve the accuracy of the Hawk-Eye system.

However, the report claims there is still a reluctance to introduce semi-auto offside technology amid questions over its effectiveness.

The system is already used in Fifa competitions such as the World Cup and has been praised for its positive impact on the Champions League this season.

Two offside calls have been found to be definitively incorrect this season – Brentford’s equaliser against Arsenal in February, and Brighton seeing a goal ruled out away at Crystal Palace in February.

Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think the semi-automated system will ultimately give us a definitive answer.

“It doesn’t allow a margin for error.

“There’s a load of cameras and the use of artificial intelligence to reach that conclusion.

“For me, it’s a no-brainer. The sooner they get it in, the better.

“They don’t need to experiment. What they need to do is fork out the money and have it installed in the stadiums.”

In other news, Arsenal two-man shopping list revealed after Arteta green light.