Arsenal VAR controversy erupts as late West Ham goal disallowed | Football | Sport
West Ham were controversially denied a 95th-minute equaliser with one of the ‘biggest moments in VAR’s history’. Arsenal had been leading heading into added time, but Callum Wilson’s late strike looked as if it would be enough to snatch a point for the relegation-threatened Hammers.
However, the celebrations inside the London Stadium when referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the monitor to review an incident involving West Ham’s Pablo and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. The referee, with the help of VAR assistant Darren England, adjudged Pablo to have committed a foul, meaning the goal was ruled out and Arsenal’s lead remained intact.
It was met by plenty of celebrations from the travelling Arsenal fans, while those of a West Ham persuasion were left dumbfounded by Kavanagh’s decision. Clarifying the referee’s decision, the Premier League’s Match Centre said: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to West Ham United. Referee announcement: ‘After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick’.”
After a sluggish first half, Arsenal eventually found the breakthrough in the second half, when Leandro Trossard netted after a Martin Odegaard cutback. It came just minutes after Raya denied Mateus Fernandes what looked to be a certain goal with a stunning 1v1 save.
However, it was the disallowed goal that will grab all of the headlines, with opinions split on whether the referee made the right call. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Premier League referee Darren Cann backed his former colleague’s decision, saying: “It is a foul by Pablo holding Raya’s arm and clearly impeding Raya.
“Also he is having his shirt pulled by Todibo as well. Unfortunately I know it is a shame for West Ham given the timing of the game, but it is a foul, that is the bottom line.
“The arm is across Raya from Pablo, but crucially he is holding Raya’s arm. He’s not going to punch the ball, he is trying to catch it. The fact he has an arm on the keeper means he can’t catch it and he is clearly impeded.”
Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito-Santo remarked: “The way the game finished – we’re all upset of course. I didn’t pay attention to the replay just to not get more upset but there’s a referee, there’s VAR, there’s circumstances in the past that would be judged different. Let’s not say much further than that.
“Due to the recent seasons it’s been happening and even the referees don’t know what is a foul, what isn’t a foul. It creates a lot of doubt and speculation around it.”
Arsenal could win the Premier League title at home to Burnley next Monday if Manchester City drop points at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
