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LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes match officials should be allowed to look at video replays before making judgements on offside decisions ahead of a new campaign that will see a change to the rules that were in place last season. A clarification of the offside law means that a player who "attempts to play a ball" or is deemed to have "impacted on an opponent playing the ball" will be adjudged to be interfering with play and flagged for offside. With match officials previously required to make a judgement call on whether a player who was in an offside position was having an effect on the game, Wenger has welcomed the changes that were discussed at a Premier League managers meeting last Tuesday. "It makes sense the new offside rule," Wenger stated. "If he [a player] is close to the action or impacts the response of the opponent, he will be given offside. It should help referees to make an easier decision." The Arsenal boss said referees should now be given additional assistance in making big calls, with the use of technology extended to offside decisions. "Maybe for me the next step on the video front will be the offside rule," he said. "A fourth official looking at offsides. The referees are judged on every decision now in the media. It makes sense if we can make it a bit easier for them." Stricter punishments for players found guilty of simulation have also been introduced for the new Premier League season, as well as guidelines to encourage managers to behave in a responsible manner on the touchline. That particular modification is pertinent to Wenger after his touchline altercation with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho last season, as well as his previous spats with rival managers Alan Pardew, Martin Jol and Sir Alex Ferguson. "I feel it is important to help the referees, that when they know the players go down it is really a foul," Wenger added. "What is good now is that with all the cameras, it will be more difficult to simulate and get away with it. "I feel quite positive about the changes to the rules and my behaviour in the technical area is important. Of course we want ourselves to behave in a positive way. We look at ourselves first."
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