Arsenal moved to the brink of a first Premier League title in 22 years after West Ham had a last-gasp equaliser ruled out by VAR in a dramatic finale at the London Stadium that left the hosts starting down the barrel of relegation.
The Gunners had been frustrated for long spells as West Ham scrapped for survival, and Mikel Arteta’s side were saved by a crucial stop from goalkeeper David Raya as he made an inspired block from Mateus Fernandes.
Moments later, Leandro Trossard ended his long scoring drought with the goal that looked to fire Arsenal to the title, but there was more drama to come after Callum Wilson scrambled an equaliser deep in stoppage time.
But in the melee, VAR spotted an infringement involving goalkeeper Raya and West Ham substitute Pablo. In a thicket of bodies in the six-yard box, Raya appeared to be grasped by the Brazilian as he attempted to claim the initial delivery into the box.
After a long deliberation of the available angles, VAR Darren England instructed referee Kavanagh to review the footage on the pitchside monitor. And following a discussion between the officials, Kavanagh chalked the goal off.
Arsenal now just need to beat relegated Burnley and Crystal Palace to win the Premier League, while West Ham are in need of a great escape with two games remaining. Tottenham can move four points clear if they beat Leeds, who are now safe, tonight.
When could Arsenal win the Premier League title?
It’s advantage Arsenal in the title race. If Manchester City fail to beat Crystal Palace at home on Wednesday, it would mean the Gunners would be able to lift the title at the Emirates with a victory over relegated Burnley in their final home game of the season, that’s on Monday 18 May.
If Man City beat Crystal Palace and Arsenal get the job done against Burnley, they would win the title if Man City then fail to beat Bournemouth in a tough looking trip to the south coast on Tuesday 19 May. That game will take place just a few days after the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
On Sky Sports, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane criticised West Ham attacker Pablo for a “poor foul” on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and said he should have kept his hands down.
“The one thing you say when you go up, VAR are going to check everything, do not put your hands on the goalkeeper! Certainly don’t leave it on for three or four seconds.
“There is all sorts going on, but because the goalkeeper had such a big part to play, I think it is a foul. It was really silly from West Ham. Don’t make it such an obvious foul because they are going to check.”
‘If I were a West Ham fan I’d be a bit angry’: Gary Lineker on VAR decision
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, former England striker Gary Lineker said it was “probably a foul” but questioned why previous grappling calls in the West Ham-Arsenal match went unpunished.
“(It was) probably a foul, but that’s not quite what they are supposed to be, is it? If I were a West Ham fan, or indeed a Manchester City fan, I think I’d be a little bit angry, because there was a lot of fouling going on at that corner,” Lineker said.
“There was a lot of grappling by Arsenal players on the West Ham attacks. I know goalkeepers are protected more than anyone else, and it was probably a foul on him, but do you look at what happened before when people are being held which is probably a more obvious foul?”
How West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal impacts the relegation fight
- Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are now safe from relegation
- Leeds are safe ahead of their visit to Tottenham Hotspur tonight
- Spurs can go four points clear of West Ham with a win against Leeds
- If Spurs win, West Ham would need two wins from final two games
- Hammers play Newcastle away and Leeds at home in final two
‘Where’s the consistency?’: Alan Shearer on VAR’s intervention
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Alan Shearer agreed with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards that the officials ultimately made the right call, but said VAR had failed to bring about an end to inconsistency in officiating.
“I guess some people will think it was a foul, some won’t, some will think, ‘Where on earth is the consistency?’ because we’re seeing something like that every single week,” Shearer said.
“I do think it was a foul but I also think the one at Everton last week with Bernardo Silva, when that was given as holding, clearly, the defender – where was VAR for that one?
“We’re having this discussion all the time, they’re taking far too long. I know it’s a hugely important decision, but so is every decision.
“Every fan will give you a screenshot of a similar incident that’s happened this season and they probably didn’t get the foul. So that’s where the anger comes from.”
‘VAR has done a really good job’: Wayne Rooney on West Ham’s disallowed goal
Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney said it was a “clear foul” on David Raya and applauded the work of VAR.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney said: “You’re going to obviously get a lot of people saying they think it should have stood because it’s controversial and probably all the [Manchester] City players, staff, fans are going to say it should have stood. And then you’re going to get all the Tottenham fans, players, staff saying it shouldn’t have stood and of course the Arsenal fans and stuff.
“But it’s a clear foul. I think you can clearly see the arm crosses his face and it impacts him getting to the ball. So I think it’s the right decision. It’s the one time I actually think VAR has done a really good job in such an important game.”
Former Premier League referee Darren Cann on Match of the Day
“I feel that the time has come now for a law change whereby no attackers are allowed in the six yard box before the corner is taken,” said Darren Cann, a former assistant referee who officiated in a World Cup final.
”So a goal kick, forwards are not allowed in the penalty area. Corners, they shouldn’t be allowed in the six yard box until the ball is in play. That would create natural separation and give the goalkeeper the space, so we wouldn’t have these endless debates.
“Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play. The referee can’t give a penalty, or can’t give an indirect free kick if the ball is not in play. This would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations.”
Former Premier League referee calls for major law change after West Ham-Arsenal controversy
Former Premier League referee Darren Cann has proposed banning attacking players from standing in the six-yard box before corners to counter the rise of “grappling” and “wrestling” following West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal in the “biggest moment in VAR history”.
Set-pieces have become increasingly physical this season, with many attacking teams focusing on crowding the opposition goalkeeper and directing an inswinging corner towards the six-yard box. As defenders attempt to protect the goalkeeper, farcical pile-ups have become a theme of the season – and it played a crucial part in one of the biggest games of the year.
Arsenal match-winner Leandro Trossard on controversial VAR decision
Leandro Trossard on West Ham’s disallowed goal:
“Raya said straight away it can’t be a goal. At that moment, I had a lot of faith. I believed because he was pretty convincing, but you never know.
“You are thinking it is not going our way, but luckily it was a foul and we won the game.
“It was relief as there wasn’t long to go, but we still had to dig in for a couple of minutes. We are just really happy with this win.”
‘The biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League’
Gary Neville felt the VAR system passed its biggest test yet after a dramatic late intervention in Arsenal’s victory over West Ham on Sunday.
“This is an earthquake, a tremor of a moment,” Neville said on Sky Sports after Callum Wilson’s goal was disallowed.
“It is probably the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. This is massive.
“I think it’s a foul – but have VAR got the nerve, the guts, the courage to make the decision? This is massive for refereeing in this country. This is too big to get wrong.”
