Arsene Wenger says VAR would have changed Arsenal history as Eto’o’s 2006 Champions League final goal was offside – The Sun

ARSENE WENGER is adamant that VAR would have "changed the history of Arsenal Football Club".

The legendary former Gunners boss reckons technology would have ruled out Samuel Eto'o's 2006 Champions League final goal.

Barcelona scored twice in the final 14 minutes to win 2-1, but it is ex-Chelsea star Eto'o's equaliser that still haunts Wenger.

Former Celtic forward Henrik Larsson delivered an inch-perfect pass into the path of Eto'o who tucked a neat finish past Manuel Almunia's near post.

However, replays showed Eto'o was in front of Kolo Toure when the pass was made.

And the failure by officials to pick up on this still eats away at Wenger some 13 years on.

Asked which game he wishes VAR had been used on, Wenger told beIN Sports: "It is the final of the 2006 Champions League, because I think Eto'o's equaliser was offside.

"That would have changed the history of Arsenal Football Club."

The pain of missing out on club football's greatest prize because of a wrong decision was clear on the Frenchman at the time.

In the aftermath of the game, he said: "It's difficult to accept losing a game any way but worse when you have to accept losing it on a wrong decision.

"The equaliser was offside and it was proven on television. We have to do something about it. It is my biggest regret.

"To play 11 against 10 and be on top in that situation, but then to concede an offside goal, is difficult to accept."

Having VAR is no guarantee of the right outcome though.

This season alone, Sergio Aguero was allowed to retake a missed penalty against West Ham.

His Man City team-mate Aymeric Laporte – now out injured for several weeks – cost his side a late winner over Spurs because of an acute handball.

Brighton and Wolves have also had winning goals taken off them, while strikes to make victories more comfortable were stripped off City and Chelsea.

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