Arsenal were the beneficiaries of one of the most contentious decisions in VAR history in the closing minutes of their 1-0 victory over West Ham.
West Ham had scored an equaliser, but after a long VAR check, the goal was ruled out owing to a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the build-up.
Gary Neville, on commentary for Sky Sports, called the incident “the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League”.
How West Ham scored
There were 94 minutes on the clock when Callum Wilson’s shot was blocked by Gabriel. From the resulting corner, West Ham sent goalkeeper Mads Hermansen forward, and he made a real nuisance of himself as he charged towards the ball.
As the corner was swung in, David Raya went to claim the ball but it slipped through his hands and bounced slightly clear. It fell nicely for Wilson, who smashed the ball first time through a crowd of bodies and into the goal. Although Declan Rice cleared it away, he and the ball were some way over the goal-line.
Arsenal’s appeals were instantaneous. Raya approached referee Chris Kavanagh, as did his team-mates. On the touchline so did Mikel Arteta, pointing to his arm to indicate that there had been a foul on his goalkeeper. The VAR, Darren England, opted to review the build-up to the goal.
The crucial VAR check
As the corner flies over the six-yard box, players jostle for position. On the left of the image below, Declan Rice appears to hold Konstantinos Mavropanos with his left arm. Meanwhile on the right of the image, Pablo, who is himself being held by Leandro Trossard, begins to stretch his arm across David Raya:
Rice
Pablo’s arm, extended across Raya’s throat, appears to prevent the Arsenal keeper from jumping to collect the ball:
Pablo v Raya
Raya is unable to make a clean catch with Pablo’s hand on the goalkeeper’s left arm. But, behind him (unseen in the image below), Rice appears to take out West Ham’s Mavropanos:
Catch
Pictures from the opposite angle show Rice with his arms around Mavropanos. Immediately after this, the ball bounces clear for Wilson to score:
Rice rugby tackle
After viewing the incident on his pitch-side monitor, Kavanagh, the on-field referee, ruled out the goal, saying: “After review, West Ham number 19 [Pablo] commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.”
The reaction
Gary Neville, on commentary for Sky Sports:
“That is a monumental moment. The biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. The drama, the drama! If Arsenal are going to go on and win a title this is the game that will go down in folklore. And Arsenal get over the line and it’s a huge move towards their first Premier League title in 22 years. Have VAR got the courage to make the decision? This is massive for refereeing in this country…”
Ian Wright, in the Sky Sports Studio
“We have seen it now, he has got his arms across him and he is impeding him. It was like a blessing!”
Roy Keane, on Sky Sports
“West Ham’s ill-discipline has cost them. When you go up, just try not to give a foul away because it’ll be checked by VAR.”
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham forward
“Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players and there is a lot of holding inside the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? You can’t wipe a goalkeeper out but the keeper has come in to grab the ball and has to expect contact. It’s the Premier League; there is going to be contact. I can guarantee that pundits and people watching know football is a physical game.”
Did the referee get it right? Our writers’ verdicts
‘It should be a goal’
Jason Burt
My view is that it should be a goal. There is so much going on at that corner and one of the issues that does not appear to be addressed is what is Leandro Trossard doing? The Arsenal forward has his back to goal and is concentrating on stopping Pablo. Does this force the West Ham attacker to raise his arm to try and reach the corner and therefore impede David Raya? Even the contact with the Arsenal goalkeeper is inconclusive. Finally, is it a clear and obvious error and is there such chaos happening that it is almost impossible to unpick.
‘Not convinced it is a clear and obvious error’
Sam Dean
My view, when watching the replays on the small screens in the press box, was that it probably was a foul on Raya by Pablo. The West Ham striker has his arm across Raya’s throat as the Spaniard is jumping, and you can see that Raya is actually appealing before the ball even reaches the six-yard box.
However – and it really is a big ‘however’ – I am not convinced it’s a clear and obvious error. Which, of course, is when VAR is supposed to be used. The length of time it took to make a decision points to it being not particularly obvious, although I can understand the referee taking his time over such an important call?
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