'VAR is ruining football' | Carragher & Merson debate VAR controversy in Arsenal's win at West Ham

On the Monday Night Football they will go in depth on that huge talking point and the impact it has had on the title race and relegation as well.But I caught up with Jamie Carragher in the MNF studio a little earlier.Yeah, it is the perfect day to have a Monday night football, isn't it?I feel that even an hour and a half build -up still isn't enough to talk about everything from the weekend, especially what happened at the London Stadium yesterday.I know you're going to do a deep dive and talk in depth about that VAR controversy.Tell us what we can expect tonight.

Well, yeah, we've been looking at it all morning, as you'd expect.So we're going to get to the bottom of it, hopefully before half six.That is the plan.But we want to try and give it the detail it deserves.And as I said, because it wasn't just about the top of the table, it had an effect on so many other teams.I actually said before the weekend, it feels like the biggest game of the season, because it affected four teams, so it's two teams involved, plus Spurs, plus Manchester City as well.

Yet the controversy at the end could have went either way, I suppose.People are seeing it differently.There was a lot more in the game as well, it wasn't just about that one decision, it was a fascinating watch.

Looking forward to hearing your opinion and your guest tonight in Germain Defoe as well.Do we feel like that moment, when we're looking at the emotion, could that go down in history?You know, we look back at the Aguero moment, for example.Will that go down as one of those big moments, do we think?

If Arsenal win the league, which I think I said last week, if they win at West Ham, they win the league.So I think they've got a great chance.I still believe that.Anybody to do with Arsenal, whether you're a player or a fan, won't believe that, because that's the nature of the game.You always think the worst is around the corner.But they've got a really favourable fixture, I think, coming next, Burnley at home.

And then, yeah, they've got a game away at Crystal Palace.Obviously, it's not easy, but if you were picking a fixture, that would probably be one that you'd pick away from home, considering the European commitments they've got.

You talked about some of the other big moments in that game as well.Obviously, you'd be looking at the Trossard winner,but even before that, the David Rea save.Some people could say Fernandes, he could have maybe taken a touch less, but when we're looking at David Rea this season, how important has he been, especially if Arsenal do go on and lift the Premier League title?

It's not just this season, it's the call to bring him in, and it wasn't universally popular, I think, when the change was made.probably quite adamant at the time that I felt Arsenal needed to move on from Ramsdale, he was a good Premier League goalkeeper, I just didn't think you could win the Premier League with him in goal.Now it remained to be seen whether he was the guy, but it was a brave decision, I think the fact that the former coach of David Reyer at Brentford I think moved to Arsenal, so probably gave him a little bit of an insight how good a goalkeeper he was, but he's been a revelation and I think on this show, probably a couple of months ago, we made a big play about the fact of whose goalkeeper would you want to try and go on and win the league.So it's a Donnarumma, a Man City or a David Rea, and he's certainly won that battle.He's the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and arguably one of the best, well, he's definitely one of the best goalkeepers in the world.You know, he could certainly have that mantle.

Won the Golden Glove, hasn't he, this season.So you're sticking by the fact that you said if Arsenal won against West Ham, they'd win the league?You're staying with that?Yeah, I'm staying with that.

Yeah, I think they'll win the league now.I think they just got over that little wobble that they had a couple of games against Manchester City and since then they've been really impressive.Not always in terms of performances but they haven't looked nervous, they haven't looked edgy.There was probably a four or five game spell where it looked like the you know, they're coming off track, but they look like they're back on it now.

If you're Arsenal fans, though, you don't care about the performances so much, do you?

Oh, no.

You know, you want to win the title.

No, that's the same with every team.We always say, you know, at this stage of the season, it's not about performance, it's about points.It's always about points at any stage of the season.

That's how it works.

Exactly.So, no, they're not.doing it the way they do it.It's not as probably eye -catching as Manchester City, but we've had those debates all season, or for years now, you know, about different sort of styles of football.It's about getting across the line, getting it, you know, that trophy won, and it's...Yeah, I think they're virtually there.

If you're City, then, what's the mindset now?Because I imagine they're feeling pretty deflated.

I think the mindset for them is...The Crystal Palace game that comes next, where they could put real pressure on Arsenal is if they got a decent scoreline in that game.Now, they scored three at the weekend against Brentford.Arsenal obviously only got one against their West Ham.If they could win by three or four goals...

It's for the goal difference.Yeah.I think that could put pressure on Arsenal and almost take the idea that you could afford to draw a game out the equation.If the goal difference was heavily in Manchester City's favour, you're making sure that on the last game of the season if you like, if Man City win their games as well, but they could put real pressure on you, you have to make Arsenal win.And then you never know what happens.Crystal Palace get a score first, there's a red card, there's a VAR decision, who knows?

But I think that could be something, because the Crystal Palace game, they'll have their minds on the European game.Yes, I know Arsenal played them last game of the season as well, but I think that's where they could maybe add a little pressure if they weren't well against Crystal Palace.

Yeah, loads for you to get into tonight alongside Dave and Jermaine Defoe.MNF is live, as always, from 6 .30 on Sky Sports Main Event.Yeah, looking forward to that.Murtagh, a word on David Rye then, because what a moment that was, the save.That came kind of before everything else, really.

Great save.Shouldn't be allowed to save it, in my opinion.It's a big, big chance that got to score.It's got to score.It's more of a big miss for me than a big save.Too many touches?

Too many touches.all his shape's horribly wrong as he does.You know, you can pick through this, you know, as he gets it.Great bit of play there, great touch and then bend it in the corner.Tries to be...By the time, if you keep on watching it, by the time he takes his shot, he's virtually falling over.

That can't happen.If you watch Harry Kane or any top centre forward, they're all quick feet.He's stretching, his foot's not in the right place, it gives way and then he goes, you know, don't get me wrong, top save.But it's a top miss as well.It's a top miss.

That's a good way of putting it.It felt like the end of that game just had all the drama.You, of course, played in that famous 1989 game at Anfield, which, you know, won you the title after a long period without one.Did the drama yesterday feel close to that?

In a different way.In a different way.But yeah, I mean, For TV -wise, for neutrals, you know, it was unbelievable last night.If you were sitting on holiday and you were reading a book and you said this was going to happen, you'd throw the book in the sea.You'd go, oh, hey, that can't happen, can it?There's a minute to go, like, and Arsenal need to win and West Ham need to get at least a draw.

And if they don't, Arsenal could lose the league.And then all of a sudden that happens.I mean, it was, yeah, absolutely mind -blowing.Yeah, I mean, VAR, I'm not a great lover of vibe.You know, I think there's no bigger buzz than scoring a football goal.You know, it's amazing to score a goal in front of 30, 40, even 5 ,000 or whatever.

But that buzz of it in the back of the net is just getting taken away more and more every week, more and more.And we need to try and sort this out.When you're in the stands as a fan and that ball goes in the back of the net, you go mad.Now, I give it two more years and I don't see anybody ever jumping up and I don't see anybody celebrating because they'll just have to wait.and see if VAR are going to give it or not.Yeah.

I mean, obviously, that was a lengthy wait yesterday, but I guess they didn't want to get it wrong, did they?

No, but I've always said as well, you know, when you're going to VAR, you're looking for it not to be clear and obvious.If it's taking that long, was it clear and obvious?That's the problem.And I know we can say, oh, we can take as long as you want, but if something's so clear and obvious, it won't take long.It won't take long.It will take you no time at all.

You know, I've watched on Soccer Saturday, you know, I've seen the decision and I've gone, oh, it's a goal or that's a free kick.You know, I haven't had to look 20, 30 times.I remember the Tottenham -Chelsea game, Angie's game, when Chelsea won 4 -1 and, like, had two players sent off and Tottenham.I remember that.I made every one of them decisions within 10 seconds.And VAR was taking minute after five minutes after six minutes.

I always say, if it's going to take you more than a minute to dissect it and pick it out, it wasn't clear and obvious.So get on with the game.

Right, I'm not going to ask you any more about VAR, OK?It feels that Arsenal...Till next week.Yeah, till next week.The title is, you know, within touching distance for Arsenal now.We saw Ian Wright on Super Sunday yesterday saying that if Arsenal win the title and the Champions League as well, that will surpass the Invincibles.

Invincibles, where do you stand on that?

Got to?I would say it's got to, but winning the Premier League and winning the Champions League could be done again.Being Invincible will never be done again.Plus, winning the league and winning the Champions League has already been done, but no -one's been invincible before by that team.So, it's a lot harder to go invincible in this team.and age.

So you don't agree?

No, I don't because two teams have already, I think it's two teams have already, Man United and Man City have already done that.But they haven't been invincible.So, sorry Righty.

I get it.I love Righty.No, I know you do.You're allowed.He's your mate so it's fine.