International Football Association Board (IFAB), the independent law-making authority for world soccer, is reportedly debating whether to significantly alter the offside rule.



The newly proposed rule is said to align closely with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-testing-controversial-new-offside-rule-says-report-20230913-WST-456011.html">recommendations put forth by renowned manager Arsene Wenger</a>.



With the establishment of the Video assistant referee (VAR), the offside regulation has been updated and clarified in recent years, although it has remained mostly unchanged for decades.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ex-premier-league-coach-advocates-for-abandoning-var-20231112-WST-469550.html">VAR</a> has allowed for a far more thorough investigation of possible offsides. Because of this, many goals are disallowed because an attacker’s toe or bent knee puts them in an offside position.



The meticulous investigation of infractions and their impact on games has become more irritating to fans. The system was intended to be in place to address ‘clear and obvious errors’ made by the referees. But rather than doing that, it has been used for the sole purpose of finding fault in them.



It has not only ignited debates among soccer pundits and fans but has also led to controversial decisions in actual soccer matches.



<h2>What does ‘Wenger law’ mean?</h2>



In accordance with the <a href="https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/offside/#offside-position" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current IFAB regulation</a>, offside is defined as: “Any part of the head, body and feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.” In layman’s terms, if any part of the attacking player’s body, that he can score with, is ahead of the last defender, he is ruled offside.”



Put another way, offside is called when any part of a player’s body that may score (except hands and arms) is in front of the second-to-last opponent. The underarm region is the only other section of a player’s body that may be considered offside.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="598" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/16052945/image-8-439x598.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-471402" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure></div><figcaption>Graphic representation of proposed Wenger’s law by IFAB</figcaption></figure>



Due to VAR’s questionable choices, particularly in high-stakes scenarios, this has become a hotly debated topic. However, Arsene Wenger, former manager of Arsenal and current acting FIFA president of global football development, has proposed modifying the offside rule.



He wants to loosen the rules a little for the strikers so that goals aren’t called back for minor infractions that provide no meaningful benefit to the defense. It has been reported by Spanish newspaper, <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/1725848526444245349?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marca</a> that the Frenchman wants the rule changed such that the attacker’s complete body must be in front of the final defender for a goal to be scored.



However, the ex-<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> coach wants the regulation clarified so that an attacker whose foot is slightly “offside” would not be called offside.



<h2>When could leagues start using it?</h2>



Football fans in the highest divisions would probably be relieved by the plan since it would put an end to the time-consuming assessments of various body parts by VAR. However, this would also add a subjective aspect to the proceedings, which might potentially increase the debate surrounding the usage of VAR in the long run.



According to the proposal, the modification will be implemented in time for the 2024-25 season if it receives approval.



The new offside regulation, dubbed “the Wenger Law,” will be tried out for the first time in Sweden’s under-21 men’s league and under-19 women’s league. Both the Netherlands and Italy have committed to testing out the Wenger Law in the future



Wenger first introduced the revised offside rule to the IFAB in 2021, with testing occurring in the lower tiers of Chinese soccer leagues the following year.



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images

IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has allegedly recommended that IFAB make a big alteration to the offside regulation for the next season.

IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/08/16/tensions-at-arsenal-are-on-knife-edge-after-no-major-signings-and-injury-crisis-frustrate-supporters/arsene-wenger-7/" rel="attachment wp-att-81845"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81845 alignnone" title="arsene-wenger" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/08/arsene-wenger2-500x281.webp" alt="" width="500" height="281" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a>
As the news about <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/08/15/arsenal-face-injury-crisis-with-mikel-arteta-out-for-4-6-weeks/">Mikel Arteta’s injury</a> filters through the Arsenal ranks, the hope and excitement that awaited the new season among Arsenal supporters is slowly turning into fear and anger before a ball has even been kicked. &nbsp;Arsenal start their campaign in a tricky game against last season’s survivalists Aston Villa, who managed to keep hold of their most prized asset <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/19/christian-benteke-agrees-aston-villa-contract-extension-through-2017/">Christian Benteke</a>. &nbsp;Arsenal, for a change, have not sold any key players, but they have failed to make any significant signings, only bringing in talented Frenchman youth player <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/05/17/arsenal-close-to-signing-french-u-21-striker-yaya-sanogo-on-free-transfer-video/">Yaya Sanogo</a>, who will most likely be watching most of the games from the touchline.
Arsenal fans were expecting to enter the new season with a minimum of two new star signings, individuals that were pried away from their previous clubs due to their superior footballing abilities, but no such thing happened. &nbsp;They have tried and tried with Luis Suarez, and agreed personal terms with Gonzalo Higuain, and depending on who you trust, lost out to getting Luiz Gustavo because they weren’t willing to offer enough money. Supporters are already expecting another barren season, but what will irritate them most is that their neighbors and most hated rivals, Tottenham, have been wide awake throwing around their “Bale” money. &nbsp;Given that that they are most likely going to be without the Welshman for this season, they have made sure to compensate for that loss. Arsenal fans have become envious of a Tottenham transfer policy that has seen them bring in Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Paulinho and Etienne Capoue.
The news of Arteta’s injury has added fuel to a fire still burning from last season, briefly subdued by a fourth place finish. &nbsp;The loss of Arsenal’s makeshift defensive midfielder, a position they have failed to properly fill since Gilberto Silva’s departure, has left them scrambling. &nbsp;Having sent out Coquelin on loan and missing out on players like Gustavo and Capoue, who were heavily linked with Arsenal for the better part of last season, fans have started to become cynical and angered by the lack of ambition in the transfer market. &nbsp;The only other team in the race for the title that has not been making waves in the transfer market has been Manchester United. However, a title and managerial change will temporarily lessen expectations. Plus they wrapped up the signing of English forward Wilfried Saha long before the transfer window even opened.
Last year there was a clear and growing divide between the staunch supporters of Wenger and the fans that have had enough of him and wanted him to step down gracefully. Achieving Champions League football and touting a summer transfer budget of £70million, increased expectations for the club, and tempered the anger of supporters. When the window opened, transfer targets were plentiful and every player became a viable target, but as time passed and targets went elsewhere, even the loyal supporters of Wenger were starting to make noise.
It is clear that the team needs reinforcement, especially up front and the defensive midfield position. Olivier Giroud’s season last year was spotty, but he was expected to play every game and his physical condition started to suffer in February and March, picking up small injuries and a recurring back injury. &nbsp;Even the staunchest supporters of Wenger are having a hard time justifying the ever-increasing prices on tickets and merchandise, without the joy of seeing a world class player join the team. &nbsp;Without any signings, the rumbling will continue and any Arsenal loss against weaker opposition or a dry spell up front will prompt heavy jeering by the supporters. By not signing anyone, Wenger is not the only one under intense pressure but the whole squad will be, especially with a poor start to the season or failure to beat Fenerbahce. &nbsp;For young players like Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and now Sanogo, coping with expectations to win the Premier League without receiving much support in terms of added cavalry may extremely harmful to their still growing confidence.
Whether signings will still be made remains to be seen. <a href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-we-re-not-scared-to-spend" target="_blank">Wenger says he’s not scared to make to spend</a>, but the proof is in the pudding. There isn’t much optimism among supporters and with Luis Suarez backtracking and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/08/16/luis-suarez-apologizes-to-liverpool-and-resumes-squad-training-daily-soccer-report/">apologizing to Liverpool</a>, his arrival at the Emirates will be scrapped.
These last two weeks are crucial for Wenger and his legacy. Wenger has always been a master tactician and his transfer dealings on a whole have been nothing short of spectacular, but he likes to find the perfect piece for the puzzle and if that does not come available, he may dip into the market for a makeshift player and often times, that ends up disastrous. &nbsp;If worse comes to worse, Arsenal may need to rely on Niklas Bendtner, and although in his delusional world he is somewhere between Pele and Maradona, his failures at Sunderland and Juventus and comments attacking Arsenal have made him a persona non grata at the Emirates, and seeing him in a full kit on the bench may see some supporters revolt. &nbsp;When the team’s options for a striker go from Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez or David Villa to Nicklas Bendtner, then anger, rage and disappointment will be fully expected.

Tensions at Arsenal Are On Knife-Edge After No Major Signings and Injury Crisis Frustrate Supporters

Tensions at Arsenal Are On Knife-Edge After No Major Signings and Injury Crisis Frustrate Supporters - World Soccer Talk

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Theo Walcott’s hat-trick against Blackpool on Saturday assured that the young winger would grab the majority of the headlines, and rightly so, but Arsenal’s demolition of Blackpool was far from a one-man show.
Pulling the strings quietly and with an elegance and vision which seemed to had vanished last season after 18 months robbed to injury was Tomas Rosicky, or ‘Little Mozart’ as he is affectionately known in his native Czech Republic.
Rosicky’s link play with Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott was a joy to behold and, regardless of the quality of opposition, the Arsenal number 7 gave a masterclass in the ability to find pockets of space between the midfield and defence.
Arsenal seem to have gathered a plethora of diminutive playmakers all wanting to play in the ‘hole’ behind a target man. It is a position Cesc Fabregas often finds himself pushed into as the season progresses, Arshavin would ideally love to play there, but Wenger prefers to use him on the left, and it is also the position Samir Nasri feels is his most natural. 
 
Nasri auditioned well for the role at Anfield last weekend but the Frenchmen seemed to hold onto the ball for too long at times and, while his constant movement caused Liverpool problems, he often left Marouane Chamakh isolated against Jaime Carragher and Martin Skrtel.
Where Rosicky excelled on Saturday was in his ability to always receive the ball on the half-turn, ready to move the ball forward and always aware of his options. He also kept the play ticking over when he needed to and was efficient in his time on the ball, refusing to over-elaborate. With the likes of Rosicky, Nasri, Fabregas and Arshavin at the club, there is certainly no better place for Jack Wilshere to learn the trade.
Rosicky has endured a difficult time since signing for Arsenal in 2006 to replace Robert Pires, who departed for Villarreal. With Arsenal playing a 4-4-2 formation, it meant that, instead of playing in a attacking central role, Rosicky had to adapt his game to play on the left side of midfield and contribute defensively as well as going forward. Replacing Pires was always going to be a difficult task and adapting to a new league and new position at the same time affected the Czech captain’s form.
There were glimpses of his potential during his first season including a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTwWkxQLEQk">30 yard screamer against Hamburg</a> and two excellent strikes against Liverpool in the FA Cup at Anfield. The first half of the 2007/2008 season saw the former Dortmund captain start to flourish in an Arsenal shirt and playing alongside his best friends at the club, Fabregas, Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, the ‘Four Musketeers’ helped Arsenal make a real fight for the title.
However, Rosicky came off injured against Newcastle United in January 2008 with what seemed a routine hamstring injury and was left sidelined for the next 18 months. The injury was complex and at more than one point it seemed his career was on the line. After finally getting fit last season, Rosicky made 33 appearances for Arsenal and made a return to the Czech national team, however his form was erratic and it was rumoured he could be heading out of the Emirates this summer, despite signing a two year extension to his contract in January.
A full pre-season has given Rosicky a solid base to build from and it seems he is reaping the rewards. It may be premature to say he his back to his best but he was Arsenal’s best player at Anfield after coming off the bench in last weekend’s 1-1 draw and his performance against Blackpool will give Wenger a selection headache now that Fabregas has returned to fitness. That the Arsenal captain will come straight into the side is in no doubt, but Wenger may now be more inclined to play Fabregas in the deeper midfield role currently occupied by Wilshere, rather than ousting Rosicky.
Whatever Wenger decides to do, it is great to see Rosicky back fit and playing something like the kind of football which made him <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkhddHlVcQ">one of the best midfielders in Europe not so long ago.</a>

Will Arsenal Fans Finally See The Best Of Tomas Rosicky?

Will Arsenal Fans Finally See The Best Of Tomas Rosicky? - World Soccer Talk

<a href="http://epltalk.com/2012/11/05/arsenal-have-the-players-but-not-the-mentality-to-compete/arsene-wenger/" rel="attachment wp-att-48040"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/arsene-wenger.jpg" alt="" title="arsene-wenger" width="500" height="333" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-48040" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a>
Four weeks ago, Arsenal’s title challenge was over. The home defeat to Chelsea had seen everyone and their dog line up to kick Arsene Wenger’s team. While they were still licking their wounds, Manchester City snatched a win against the usual collection of youngsters, sprinkled with experience in the League Cup. Not good enough, not strong enough, need another striker they cried.
Well here we are then, on December 30th, Arsenal are tucked in 3rd, with a game in hand, which is against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates next week. Win that and they go second in the table. Yet as the Portsmouth fans who have witnessed tonight’s thrashing at the hands of the Gunners said, if they had a predatory striker, they’d have scored 20.

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For all the failings that Arsenal are constantly accused off, it’s their lack of that predator in the box that seemingly holds them back from killing teams off that their rivals manage to snuff out. Yet, it feels churlish to criticise a side that have score 51 goals in 19 Premiership games and could be second this time next week. Of course, as my fellow EPL talk <a href="http://epltalk.com/wenger-plans-for-the-two-weeks-that-will-determine-arsenal%E2%80%99s-season/14258#comment-89152" target="_blank">writer Eric Altshul wrote earlier this week</a>, Arsenal have a crucial 4 game period coming up from January 27th.
The results against the other big clubs do not determine the Premiership title, you only have to look at Liverpool’s result last season to see how little it effects the Premiership outcome. It is the games that you should win, that slip through your fingers that cost you titles and cups. For every emphatic thrashing of Portsmouth, there’s a defeat at Sunderland or a draw at West Ham United. Those are the games, especially the West Ham match when Arsenal threw away a 2-0 lead that will keep them from going top next week.
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Of course, Wenger is one of the best managers at protecting his players and keeping his cards close to his chest. If he thinks he needs a striker, he’s not the type to come out and say it, he usually just goes out and gets his man. Now, with Arsenal having a real chance to get their hands on the Premier League title, having someone who has an ability to scuff the ball in off his backside is exactly what Arsenal need. Financially Wenger could, within reason, land any striker outside of the Premier League to give them that final piece.
For all the doom mongers complaining when he sold Adebayor and Toure, for a combined £41 million, the dissenting voices seem to have grown increasingly quiet. Replacing Toure with the elegant Vermaelen was a masterstroke that has seen the Belgian weigh in with some important goals from the back. With the injuries to van Persie, Bendtner, Walcott, Denilson and Fabregas and the impending African Cup of Nations taking Song, Wenger may be forced into the market whether he likes it or not.
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Of course, the one major bonus to the injuries that have blighted Arsenal is the continued presence of Andrei Arshavin, who has continued to rein in his own attacking instincts for the benefit of the team. The lad has given a real team performance over the last few weeks at the expense of personal glory and has re-affirmed his reputation as an excellent footballer.
So Arsenal finish a year which has seen them continue to play beautiful football, but miss out on the big prizes. Perhaps Wenger has already decided what part of the jigsaw is required to complete the beautiful with a little bit of brawn in the box.

Arsenal Re-Ignite Their Title Challenge

Arsenal Re-Ignite Their Title Challenge - World Soccer Talk

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IFAB contemplate major offside rule change for next season

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Tensions at Arsenal Are On Knife-Edge After No Major Signings and Injury Crisis Frustrate Supporters

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Will Arsenal Fans Finally See The Best Of Tomas Rosicky?

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Arsenal Re-Ignite Their Title Challenge