Arsenal restored their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table in dramatic fashion
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer were in agreement that West Ham United’s goal which was ruled out for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was probably the right decision. However, the pair raised questions over the consistency of the application of the laws, with fans taking to social media to highlight similar incidents which have gone against their teams this season.
The disallowed goal meant Mikel Arteta’s side were able to restore their five point lead over Manchester City in second place, though Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand over the Gunners. Nevertheless, if Arsenal win their last two games the Premier League title will be theirs.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: “Well, what a finale to that game between West Ham and Arsenal. It sort of sums things up a little bit that VAR could decide who wins the league.”
“Yeah, that’s where we are with it,” Shearer said. “I guess some people will think it was a foul, some won’t. Some people will think where on earth is the consistency because we see something like that every single week.
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“I do think it was a foul, but I also think the one at Everton last week with Bernardo Silva when that wasn’t given in terms of holding clearly the defender. Where was VAR for that one?
“There was one first game of the season as well at Old Trafford. But, yeah, that’s where we are with it. Probably a foul though for me.”
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Lineker said: “Probably a foul, but that’s not quite what VAR is supposed to be, is it? If I were a West Ham fan or indeed a Manchester City, I think I’d be a little bit angry tonight because there was a lot of fouling going on at that corner.
“There was a lot of grappling by Arsenal players on the West Ham attackers. I know that goalkeepers are protected more than anyone else, and it was probably a foul on him.
“But do you not then look at what happened before when people have been held? Which is probably more an obvious foul. But they turned it over.
“It depends where the bar is at the moment. It must be a low bar at the moment to turn that one over. It probably was a foul he had his arm across him.”
Micah Richards said: “Yeah, but it depends what camp you’re in. If you’re in Manchester City’s camp, you’re saying it’s not a foul. If you’re in Arsenal’s camp, you’re saying it’s a foul, as simple as that.
“The wider point that you raise, VAR is – I don’t want yo use the words ruining our game, because ultimately we want the correct decision to follow, certainly when the title is on the line like so.”
“Do you think they were perhaps influenced by the gravitas of the situation?” Lineker asked. “Do you think that – I mean it took a long time.”
Shearer said: “We’re having this discussion all the time, is that they take far too long. I know it’s a hugely important decision, but so is every other decision. Every fan will give you a screenshot of a similar incident that has happened to them this season and they probably didn’t get the foul.
“That’s where the anger comes from. Having said that, you have to praise Arsenal by the way because you can tell they’re under huge pressure. I thought they started the game really well.”
