Hayes calls for VAR after Chelsea defeat

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes suggested VAR should be used in the Women’s Super League after the defending champions were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal in their opening match of the season.

Erin Cuthbert levelled on the stroke of half-time at the Emirates Stadium after Vivianne Miedema had put Arsenal ahead.

But Beth Mead scored twice for the Gunners in the space of 11 second-half minutes and Chelsea were unable to find another equaliser after Pernille Harder’s header reduced the deficit.

Mead’s second goal looked offside and was a crucial point in the game.

“It was two yards offside,” Hayes said. “The positive is that there were goals, some good attacking football and there have been good attendances.

“The negative is, by putting our product in such a brilliant place, with Sky in particular, it means that everybody is asking the question: ‘why haven’t we got goal line technology and why don’t we have VAR?’

“I think it’s selling our game short because we’ve all got used to VAR and goal line technology.”

It was a successful first league game in charge for new Gunners manager Jonas Eidevall, as his side gave an early indication that they could be more solid title contenders this year.

It took 14 minutes for Miedema to get off the mark, as the lethal Dutch forward ran on to Katie McCabe’s superb pass down the left before cutting inside and scoring at the near post.

Debutant Maya Iwabuchi then had a golden chance to double Arsenal’s lead when she scooped Mead’s cut-back well over the bar.

Chelsea were then level just before half-time when a loose ball ran for Melanie Leupolz, who helped the ball right for Cuthbert to fire home with a first-time effort.

The Gunners were ahead again, however, four minutes into the second half, as Mead ran on to Miedema’s pass before unleashing a brilliant strike that gave Ann-Katrin Berger no chance.

The same combination almost created a third for Arsenal, as Mead was again put through by Miedema, with Berger this time making a good block.

But it was 3-1 after an hour, as Mead beat Berger to Iwabuchi’s through ball before keeping her nerve and rolling into an empty net.

The Blues quickly got back in the game, with Pernille Harder thumping in a header from Cuthbert’s cross, but they couldn’t force an equaliser in the time that remained.

“We scored two goals at the Emirates, had 15 shots, created chances but you can’t concede three goals and expect to win games,” Hayes admitted.

“The challenge hasn’t got any different, I just think the difference was the Champions League competition meant the opponent today had a little bit more in their legs in the clinical moments than we did.

“The way we conceded those three goals, which were all in transition, is, for me, the most disappointing part.”

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