Arsenal were on the right side of a controversial VAR call in their win over West Ham which could potentially decide both the Premier League title and relegation fights
One of the most high-profile decisions in Premier League history has left pundits divided following Arsenal’s VAR reprieve at West Ham. The Gunners maintain their pursuit of a first top-flight crown since 2004 courtesy of what will be remembered as the season’s most significant ruling, while the Hammers’ prospects of survival hang by a thread.
A late strike from Leandro Trossard placed the leaders within touching distance of three crucial points to preserve their Premier League title ambitions. Yet a stoppage-time leveller from Callum Wilson momentarily devastated them as Nuno Espirito Santo’s outfit believed they had salvaged a point against the table-toppers.
That changed when Wilson’s effort was chalked off for a disputed foul on David Raya, which arrived following a five-minute delay while officials deliberated. Mikel Arteta’s side remain five points clear of Manchester City as a result and numerous leading pundits have offered their verdict on a moment that could have determined both the title and relegation fights.
Wayne Rooney – Correct call
“It’s a clear foul,” said Wayne Rooney on the latest episode of his BBC show. “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 players, staff, and fans, and they are going to say it should have stood.
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“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 his ability to [get 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.”
Gary Neville – Correct call
“For Darren England, it’s all eyes on him,” said Gary Neville on his podcast after Sunday’s result. “At the start, we don’t know. Was it over the line? That was what I was thinking but it looked over the line and Declan Rice, as it turned out, was way behind the line.
“But then we see obviously a VAR check for a foul on the goalkeeper and I think that’s the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. There are a lot who aren’t fans of VAR, and maybe rightly so, but it could have just made Arsenal champions, and it could have got a decision right that wouldn’t have been right.
“I was wondering whether Darren England had the courage, had the nerve to overturn, and what was he going to do in this moment. I have to say we get the luxury, and I wish all fans at home and fans in the stadium got the luxury of being able to hear them, because to be fair he was composed, he was walking through it, he was talking to the referee, he was talking to his colleague who was sat next to him, and he walked through it perfectly.
“He checked everything around it, there was a little foul by Rice behind, I think that was maybe after the Raya foul, and just the fact that Pablo just had his arm there and he wasn’t looking at the ball. He wasn’t looking to play the ball, and he was looking just to impede the goalkeeper.
“If it’s just one of those where you’re just going up as a movement, then I think maybe that’s something that he would have got away with, but that prolonged lasting arm across Raya, they have to then call it. Darren England made the right decision and Arsenal breathe the biggest sigh of relief, probably that those fans have breathed for a long, long time.”
Peter Schmeichel – Wrong call
“That decision today, it’s just so wrong on so many levels,” said former Manchester City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel while covering the game for Viaplay. “What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick.
“That’s how they’ve scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kind of things, and then we get to this point…it takes VAR five minutes.
“Darren England the VAR official, [it takes] five minutes. He starts the replay over and over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick, it cannot.
“I think it’s so wrong, I just don’t understand why all of a sudden that’s a free kick, because it’s not been for any teams all the way throughout the season. All of this, it’s just crazy and that decision today is just so wrong on so many levels.”
Ian Wright – Correct call
Ian Wright, making a rare Super Sunday appearance, declared: “We have seen it now, he has got his arms across him and he is impeding him. It was like a blessing!”
Jamie Redknapp – Correct call
“It was a brave VAR call but it was the right one”.
Shay Given – On the fence
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shay Given said: “The thing that grates me is we have seen on numerous occasions with Arsenal this season, goalkeepers and defenders getting blocked off and the goal stands. Everyone is frustrated about the consistency of the refereeing decision.
“Why are some goals allowed to stand and this was disallowed? There is so much at stake at the bottom of the league and the very top.
“The other thing is Gabriel is holding, [Martin] Odegaard is holding, [Leandro] Trossard is holding before the foul even happens on Raya. When does the referee decide that’s the foul he wants to pick and not the previous foul?”
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Rob Green – Correct call
“It is a foul. You are looking at two players fouling the goalkeeper,” said former West Ham stopped Rob Green on BBC Radio 5 Live. “There have been so many of these this season, it has been such a talked-about topic, there has been such inconsistency with it so for it to come down to this is huge.
“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 players, staff, and fans, and they are going to say it should have stood.
“It just feels like for VAR, for West Ham, for Arsenal in particular with their set-pieces, has been the topic of the season. In isolation – foul. There were five or six fouls going on at the same time in there but it’s where the ball landed. Then you think consistency – there hasn’t been any.”
Roy Keane – Correct call
“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.”
Danny Murphy – Correct call
“The controversy and discontent around West Ham not being given the goal is because it’s Arsenal,” said Liverpool icon Murphy on Match of the Day. “They can’t be held accountable for decisions in the past.”
“The VAR officials have got to say what they see and it’s a clear foul. Just because it’s Arsenal, we shouldn’t get it distorted.”
