Arsenal took home all three points from their trip to West Ham on Sunday despite a dramatic finale which saw Callum Wilson’s strike ruled out by VAR
Former Premier League referee Howard Webb says that Chris Kavanagh and VAR made the correct decision to disallow West Ham’s late goal against Arsenal.
After Leandro Trossard put Mikel Arteta’s side in front in the 83rd minute, West Ham thought they had snatched a point deep into stoppage-time at the London Stadium.
Callum Wilson lashed home from inside the box after the ball fell into his path, but, following a long VAR check, the goal was chalked off. It was viewed that Pablo fouled David Raya in the build-up.
As a cross came into the Arsenal box, Raya came out to catch but, just as he didn’t get the cleanest contact on the ball, Pablo appeared to hold the left arm of the goalkeeper, sending him to the floor.
Arsenal were incensed and Kavanagh, who didn’t initially give the foul, changed his mind after going across to his pitch-side monitor. Communicating his decision to those inside the stadium, Kavanagh said: “After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is a free-kick.”
48 hours have since passed and there has been much reaction to the decision, with Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Ian Wright among those agreeing that Kavanagh and VAR came to the right conclusion, while others, such as Peter Schmeichel and Shay Given felt Raya had to be stronger, and the goal should have stood.
Now, Webb, who is Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief refereeing officer, has weighed in with his verdict on the decision, believing Kavanagh and VAR made the correct call.
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Webb, 54, said on Match Officials Mic’d Up: “So, is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically, yes. We’ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore they can’t do their job, they’ll be penalised.
“So when you see the best angle on this, you’ll see that that’s what happens from Pablo. And on the video, it’s clear and it’s obvious, and it happens early.
“And even though it’s not clear and obvious to the referee because he’s got a huge group of players in a penalty area, and it’s difficult to see, when the VAR sees this, of course, they have to get involved.
“We’re in the Premier League, and we know that not every contact is a foul. We consult all the time with the clubs, with the fan groups, with a range of other stakeholders about the type of game that they want to see and how they want us to officiate it.
“This season’s been a little bit more unique than previous ones about the number of contacts in the penalty area, and it does create a challenge for the officials. But when they’re trying to identify what should be penalised, they’re looking for situations that are impactful.
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“And you’ll see that in this situation, that it takes a bit of time because they’re going through a process pretty diligently because they really respect the game, and they’re aware, of course, of the size of this situation, the importance of this situation.”
The full footage from Kavanagh’s conversation with VAR was recorded and played throughout the programme. You can read it below.
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
- Assistant Referee #1: Dan Cook
- Assistant Referee #2: Ian Hussin
- Fourth Official: James Bell
- VAR: Darren England
- VAR Assistant: Akil Howson
VAR: Possible foul on keeper.
VAR: Watch has gone.
AVAR: Goal given.
AR1: I don’t see any foul on the goalkeeper.
REF: On-field decision is goal.
VAR: Checking the on-field decision of goal.
VAR: OK, let’s play it through, let’s play it through. Let’s just get a feel now.
VAR: So, the keeper there…
VAR: Then it’s just a shot. So, it’s literally just a possible foul on Raya, what I’m seeing in terms of that.
AVAR: Yeah, and to make sure he doesn’t have it in his hand.
VAR: OK, let’s get a tighter angle on the goalkeeper please.
VAR: On the Arsenal goalkeeper.
RO: Yeah.
VAR: This one. Slow it down, frame by frame.
VAR: For me, there is a foul. Potential foul with the arm.
VAR: His hand is holding his arm down. That’s impactful, for me.
VAR: The left arm there, is holding, is across the body.
VAR: He’s across the head and he’s holding the left arm of Raya, there.
VAR: Which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly.
VAR: Doesn’t look that impactful from that angle.
RO: I’ve got a pole-cam angle.
VAR: Give us pole-cam.
AVAR: It’s like, Raya…
AVAR: Because that contact we’ve got there, we’ve got…
VAR: Just keep delaying. Just checking possible foul on the goalkeeper.
AVAR: You’ve got that straight behind him as well, look.
VAR: Yeah.
RO: I’ll go back to the original angle.
VAR: Yeah.
VAR: But this happens before.
RO: Do you want to see it at full speed?
VAR: Yes please.
VAR: Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that, for me.
VAR: Go back to the second angle you showed me, the second angle.
RO: No problem, just going to look now.
AVAR: Can you do a split screen on both of them as well?
VAR: This one here, this one. Yeah, give us a split screen. That one and then the first angle.
RO: OK, goal line?
VAR: No, sorry, this one and this one, thank you.
AVAR: I don’t like Trossard not facing the ball and you’ve got…
AVAR: I agree, it’s impactful, it’s just everything else that’s going on as well.
AVAR: Let’s say we’re saying that’s a foul, then what are we saying about Trossard’s actions on the same player?
AVAR: What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?
VAR: Yeah.
VAR: He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn’t he? When he’s getting to the ball.
AVAR: What’s your initial opinion as you watched it?
VAR: I think, for me, we send him for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper.
VAR: And then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think that’s the best decision in terms of this.
VAR: OK.
VAR: Chris (Chris Kavanagh – REF), I’m going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper but there are some other incidents to look at while you’re at the monitor as well.
REF: OK.
VAR: So, I’m going to show you a possible foul on the goalkeeper.
RO: This angle?
REF: OK.
VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds onto the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.
REF: Yeah.
VAR: I’m showing you that now.
REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.
VAR: Yeah, but then I’m just going to show you some, obviously, other angles on that incident, of players.
REF: OK.
AVAR: You’ve got Declan Rice and you’ve got Trossard.
REF: I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.
VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo. Give me a better angle on that.
VAR: I’ll get you a better angle.
REF: I don’t think there’s much in that at all, I’m happy with that.
VAR: Yeah, OK.
REF: That’s nothing.
VAR: And then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back.
VAR: But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.
REF: Before it, so… After review, West Ham number…
VAR: 19.
REF: 19. Foul.
REF: Just confirm his number again for me.
VAR: 19.
VAR: Yeah, confirmed.
REF: Mic open.
REF: After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.
