West Ham 0-1 Arsenal: VAR dramatically featured in the closing stages of a game that had huge implications for both ends of the Premier League table.
Leandro Trossard scores the goal that sinks West Ham (Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
It was pure torture for Arsenal.
The title race was deadlocked, tilted in Arsenal’s favor, and was decided by VAR. That’s modern soccer for you. The match was decided by two referees in the video control room. How did this happen? No one knows for sure, but this time Arsenal did not complain about the referee’s decision.
No, it was left at West Ham. Because they are on the brink of relegation due to defeat after an ugly, bitter and horrific defeat. In fact, this may be the biggest VAR decision in Premier League history.
Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead in the 83rd minute and his goal ultimately sealed the match, propelling Mikel Arteta’s side towards their first title in 22 years. But that was only half the story. West Ham never gave up and thought they had snatched an equalizer in the 95th minute when Callum Wilson threaded a shot through the players from a corner kick.
read more: Leandro Trossard and VAR sink West Ham as Arsenal move closer to title – 6 talking pointsread more: Gary Neville makes massive claim on VAR after West Ham vs Arsenal drama
West Ham celebrated wildly, the stadium went wild and Arsenal desperately appealed to referee Chris Kavanagh to give him another look.
Kavanagh was sent to the screen for everyone to see. During the shirt-pulling fracas, West Ham substitute Pablo attacked Arsenal keeper David Raya. To be honest, no one is sure these days, but this was a clear foul. Handball, pushing, grappling. It’s all a bit of a lottery.
West Ham fans are fighting for their lives and we have to accept that they will be furious as this defeat could ultimately lead to relegation.
But Arsenal went through hell in one game. They played poorly and Arteta made all the wrong substitutions and decisions and almost got blown out.
Referee Chris Kavanagh ruled out Callum Wilson’s goal (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
The roller coaster of a title race unfolded over the course of just over 10 frantic minutes and there was a palpable sense of relief as Arsenal players made their way to the away fans after the final whistle. They will know that they escaped with what could have been their biggest win, biggest goal and biggest loss of the entire season.
In order to secure their place as champions, Arsenal will need two wins – against relegated Burnley and against Crystal Palace on the final day. But this felt like the biggest thing of all.
Arteta’s men looked nervous, as if they had lost the bottle and had definitely run out of ideas. They got off to a good enough start and almost broke the deadlock with Ricardo Calafioli and Trossard twice heading the crossbar from the same corner melee.
But then Arsenal dried up. With Ben White injured, Arteta inexplicably introduced Martin Zvimendi and switched Declan Rice to right-back. Rice was Arsenal’s driving force but then lost momentum.
VAR deemed Pablo to have fouled David Raya (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
West Ham also had a chance, with Raya making a sensational save to deny Matheus Fernandes. The game gradually moved away from Arsenal.
Arteta made some big changes, substituting Noni Madueke for Zvimendi, but it was Martin Odegaard who really made the difference. He effectively won the match. It was a drive run into the box, a cutback and a low shot from Trossard that weaved through the players and into the bottom corner of the goal.
Arsenal thought this was the game. However, West Ham besieged the Arsenal box. They were now in a head-to-head battle with Tottenham for survival and had no intention of giving up.
Arsenal looked mostly comfortable until Wilson saw Gabriel block a shot brilliantly. The Hammers pushed into the corner but were completely out of it after that. A corner kick was deflected, there was some grappling and shoving, and in the end, the goal was canceled by VAR, and chaos ensued.
In the end, that decision may decide the title. That could just be the title. Arsenal did not play well and one point was deducted. But it was the right decision.
The game against West Ham was really tough. But Arsenal can now dream. The title is within my grasp.
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