"Eventually, progress takes a quantum leap forward and I think that at some point in the Premier League they will have video evidence," he said.
"I was reading about the coach at Bologna who was suggesting videos on the side of the pitch and that if the referee couldn't make up his mind within 30 seconds - which is the time it takes to take a throw-in - the referee should play on. That isn't a bad idea, because what you don't want is people sat in the stands freezing. I think that's the deterrent to video evidence, but progress is progress and I have come round to the idea."
Arsène Wenger has long been a supporter of video technology and the Arsenal manager agreed that Riley had unduly influenced the title race. "Mike Riley has made a mistake, he cannot hide from that in those two games but I cannot influence that," he said. "I can only be responsible for the behaviour of my team and in the latest statistics for December we committed less fouls than anyone else and had more fouls committed against us. Then, what I expect from referees is to be honest and I believe Mike Riley is an honest man but, of course, they make mistakes."