Sokratis Papastathopoulos has insisted VAR would have overturned his red card in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Rennes but says the Gunners can mount a comeback in his absence to keep their Europa League dreams alive.
Unai Emery’s side have a mountain to climb after a collapsing despite a bright start here in Brittany as Alex Iwobi gave the visitors an early lead before Sokratis picked up two yellow cards in seven minutes.
The first was for a tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa and the second for pulling back Ismalla Sarr as he burst into the box.
Moments after Sokratis’ 43rd-minute dismissal by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak, Benjamin Bourigeaud equalised before a one-sided second half included an own goal from Nacho Monreal and Sarr adding a third late on.
Video Assistant Referees are in effect in the Champions League knockout stages but will not be brought into the Europa League until this year’s final in Baku.
“Of course, with the VAR there, yes, [I wouldn’t have been sent off],” Sokratis told Standard Sport. “I don’t criticise the referee but maybe if the VAR is coming, it can help. He can make mistakes, like we can.
“He has to explain to us. For this, sometimes it is better if they put in VAR and this helps the referee a little bit more. The decision was very bad.
“We had control of the game but after the decision of the referee changed the game. It is difficult to play with ten players. I think the referee give me two easy yellow cards. Both were too easy. The first, I didn’t touch him and the second is too easy, you know? In the end, 3-1, we need two goals to score at home and I think we can do it.”
Arsenal came from behind to beat BATE Borisov in the previous round and will need to do so again in next Thursday’s second leg to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
“With BATE we had to score two goals and now if we score two goals, we are there and I think that we have the team and the power in our home to do it,” said Sokratis, who will be suspended for the return match.
“I cannot change anything. I will be there with them and I am sure they play also for me and next week we will do it. First, we will concentrate on Sunday because it is a very important game.”
This weekend Arsenal face Manchester United, who benefitted from a controversial VAR decision in pulling off a famous Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain to reach the last eight.
However, when asked if the high of that result will make it difficult to beat United – who also won at Emirates Stadium in their FA Cup fourth round tie in January – Sokratis said: “No. We play in our home. We know what we can do. We will play with confidence and everything will be good.
“Of course we watched. Everybody watched. But we will be ready. Everybody is thinking about Sunday’s game already and we will give 100 per cent.”
The Gunners are currently fifth in the Premier League, one point behind fourth-placed United.