'You are informed': Laura Woods shares what the VAR did in Arsenal vs Bayern which didn't quite add up

Bukayo Saka and The Emirates crowd were incandescent after the full-time whistle after the ref chose not to give Arsenal a penalty after Manuel Neuer brought the England star down in the penalty area.

Glenn Nyberg was at the middle of everything on Tuesday night. Whether it be a possible red card for Bayern Munich and England captain Harry Kane – or a Bayern penalty shout in the second half, 2-1 up.

Thomas Tuchel was left raging in his press conference after Gabriel picked the ball up from a goal kick – following the referee’s whistle. Kane could easily have seen red for his elbow on Arsenal defender Gabriel.

Bukayo Saka was fuming after failing to win Arsenal a penalty

With the score 2-2 and the game in injury time, Bukayo Saka was brought down by Bayern’s Neuer in the penalty area. Replays showed contact. But, the contact perhaps was generated by the Arsenal talent.

Indeed, at first look it is a penalty with there being contact between Saka and Neuer. On second glance, it seems Saka manufactures that contact by kicking icon Neuer before throwing himself to the ground.

Arsenal FC v FC Bayern München: Quarter-final First Leg - UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Nyberg probably got the call right, but his decision not to send Kane off or hand Bayern a penalty for the handball by Gabriel have since been questioned. A difficult game for a young ref, on a very big stage.

What Laura Woods said on VAR’s involvement over Saka decision

Speaking while presenting TNT Sports’ coverage of the match, Woods says that they are notified when VAR are checking an incident. Nyberg puts his finger to his ear as if to suggest VAR are talking to him.

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But, Woods says TNT were not notified VAR was in contact: “What is slightly unclear is it looks like the ref checks his ears, points to his ears and says no penalty. We assume he has spoken to VAR and no penalty.

“In commentary you are informed of those decisions and whether VAR are having a look and there wasn’t a message come through to say VAR are having a look. It’s unclear whether or not VAR did get involved.”

Arsenal not face a difficult test against Aston Villa on the weekend before going to Germany, for the second leg against Bayern Munich. The 2-2 draw perhaps hands the advantage back to Tuchel’s men.