Carragher calls for more technology after VAR unable to rule out Soucek's goal

Jamie Carragher believes officials need more technology after Tomas Soucek's controversial opener against Arsenal - with VAR unable to determine whether the ball had gone out of play before Jarrod Bowen crossed the ball back in.

West Ham secured a famous 2-0 win at title chasers Arsenal on Thursday night thanks to Soucek's goal before former Gunners defender Konstantinos Mavropanos headed home in the second half.

However, there was VAR controversy yet again in a game involving the Gunners after claims that the ball had crossed the byline before Bowen had hooked the ball across the face of goal for Soucek to prod home for the opener.

It was not the first time Arsenal have been on the wrong end of a marginal decision on the byline after Mikel Arteta was enraged by Anthony Gordon's goal being allowed to stand in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle last month in similar circumstances.

Carragher believes such calls are 'virtually impossible' to get right with the assistant on the opposite side of the pitch and questioned whether it was possible to have technology along the byline.

Writing on X, the Sky Sports pundit wrote: 'The ball looks out for the West Ham goal but the VAR couldn't overturn that. At Newcastle I thought the ball stayed in, but on both occasions the referee's assistant is on the opposite side so it's virtually impossible for him to make a decision.

'Is it possible to get technology along the byline?'

Football already has goalline technology in place to immediately notify referees when the ball has crossed the line, but officials have found it much tougher to make calls in other circumstances.

Arteta - who embarked on a furious rant the last time Arsenal were on the wrong end of a controversial VAR decision, and insisted