West Ham responds after a tricky Arsenal VAR decision as the referee clears things up
West Ham United have reportedly taken steps after their late equaliser was disallowed against Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League match at the London Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal moved five points ahead of Manchester City, getting closer to their first Premier League title in 22 years. Meanwhile, West Ham fought hard but couldn’t move above their relegation rivals Spurs.
The match seemed set for a draw until Leandro Trossard scored for Arsenal in the 83rd minute. West Ham kept pushing and were cheered on as Callum Wilson scored in stoppage time to level the game.
However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out because of a foul on Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya. Referee Chris Kavanagh checked the monitor and gave a free kick to Arsenal.
People have mixed feelings about the decision. Some praised the referee’s courage, while others think many fouls happened during the chaotic moment in the box.
Arteta called the decision “brave,” saying, “The referee and VAR showed courage to stop and review the play, letting the referee decide. It’s clear there was a foul because David had almost caught the ball, and the foul stopped him from doing that and prevented a goal. It’s a free kick, and the goal must be disallowed. This makes me realize how tough the referee’s job is.”
West Ham’s manager Nuno Espírito Santo disagreed, saying referees “don’t know what a foul is” and often “confuse themselves.” He added, “We’ve seen this kind of thing many times before. Even referees seem unsure what’s a foul, which causes confusion and frustration for players. It happens every game and it’s a real problem. The referees need to fix it.”
Now, The Times reports that West Ham plan to lodge an official complaint with the PGMOL about the decision.
Former Premier League referee Peter Walton, however, feels VAR made the right call. He explained, “From the referee’s view on the field, it was a jumble of players, and he couldn’t clearly see the foul. The foul happened when West Ham’s Pablo put his arm across Raya’s arm and shoulder, limiting Raya’s movement and stopping him from properly going for the ball.”
Walton continued, “VAR’s angles show this clearly. Under the rules, holding or blocking an opponent is a foul. Goalkeepers are in a special position because they jump differently and extend their arms to catch or punch the ball. So, physical contact that might be allowed between outfield players isn’t allowed when it stops a goalkeeper from doing their job.”
He also praised both the VAR official Darren England and referee Kavanagh for having the courage and understanding to change the call after reviewing the incident.
West Ham’s next game is away to Newcastle on May 17, and Arsenal will host Burnley on May 18.