“Arsenal were lucky because…” Arsenal legend, Ian wright agrees with Erik Ten Hag who blasted VAR for making decison against them that helped Arsenal to win

“Arsenal were lucky because…” Ian wright agrees with Erik Ten Hag who blasted VAR for making decison against them that helped Arsenal to win

‘Lucky’: Ian Wright and Peter Schmeichel react to Bukayo Saka’s actions on Bruno ferbandez

Ian Wright has admitted that Bukayo Saka was ‘lucky’ not to get sent off for his high challenge on Bruno Fernandes during Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday at the Emirates.

Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel disagreed and felt that Bukayo Saka’s challenge on the Manchester United captain was more of an ‘orange’, as he told Premier League Productions (03/09/23 at 5:30 pm).

In the end, Arsenal’s star boy on the right received a yellow card, whilst Bruno Fernandes lay on the floor seemingly in agony and like he needed an ambulance.

Anthony Taylor didn’t hesitate in brandishing a yellow card to Saka straight away, with VAR opting against sending the on-field referee to his off-field monitor – it was also claimed during the game that one Manchester United player was ‘scared’ of Saka.

The protests from the Manchester United fans were that Saka should have been sent his marching orders because he caught Fernandes high on his leg after losing balance whilst trying to tackle for the ball.

That was touched upon by Wright, who shared his thoughts on that incident alongside Schmeichel.

“It might be a tiny bit orange,” said Schmeichel. “He is out of balance, he is losing the ball and he is trying to win it back. I mean, I hate to see players sent off. I don’t think it was a red card.”

Wright added: “You look at the way Dalot is holding him (Saka), then he lunges. If he got sent off for that, then it wouldn’t surprise you the way that referees are doing what they are doing now. It wouldn’t surprise me.

“I would say he is lucky there because he caught him quite high on the ankle.”

Mauricio Pochettino Chelsea ian wright
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
The right call was made
The problem is consistency. In a number of weeks, if another player makes a similar tackle, he will probably get sent off, when he shouldn’t, and that’s where the problems lie.

If that challenge from Saka is always given as a yellow, then fans and players wouldn’t have many complaints.

The right call was made by Taylor on the day because it probably would have been more of a talking point if he had actually decided to send Saka off.