Leandro Trossard scored for Arsenal in the 83rd minute, followed by Callum Wilson’s shot that crossed the goal line, seemingly securing an equalizer for West Ham in the fifth minute of injury time. Initially, referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the goal to West Ham.

However, after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was disallowed. VAR Darren England instructed Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Following a review of 17 camera angles and a total delay of 4 minutes and 17 seconds, the referee determined that Pablo had fouled goalkeeper David Raya before the ball entered the net.

The collision between David Raya and Pablo led to West Ham's equalizer being disallowed. Sky Sports

The collision between David Raya and Pablo led to West Ham's equalizer being disallowed. Sky Sports

Gary Neville described the incident at London Stadium as "an earthquake, a seismic event in football". He suggested that Arsenal’s first title in 22 years might hinge on this moment, adding that it was a moment that could make Arsenal believe their name was already etched on the trophy.

The former England defender considered this the biggest moment in Premier League VAR history. Neville noted that many people dislike VAR, and while they might be right, this technology could both help Arsenal move closer to the championship and correct a potentially incorrect decision.

In his post-match podcast, Neville further analyzed the VAR team's decision. He revealed that initially, even commentators were unsure if the ball had crossed the line before replays confirmed Declan Rice could not make the save.

Neville stated that immense pressure was on VAR Darren England, who had to decide whether to overturn the on-field decision. The former England international was particularly impressed by the VAR team’s composure during the review. Neville disclosed that he listened directly to the communication between Darren England, referee Chris Kavanagh, and their colleagues, believing that VAR thoroughly checked every detail before reaching a conclusion.

Neville's assessment highlighted that Pablo obstructed David Raya with his hand without intending to play the ball. He argued that if it had been a normal collision during an aerial challenge, West Ham might have avoided the foul. However, the player’s prolonged contact with Raya forced VAR intervention.

Former captain Roy Keane also agreed with the VAR decision. He advised players not to put their hands on the goalkeeper, especially not for three or four seconds. Keane acknowledged the numerous contacts in the situation but concluded it was a foul due to the goalkeeper's crucial role. He criticized West Ham for being "foolish" by creating such a clear foul, as it would surely be reviewed.

Former midfielder Jamie Redknapp considered the VAR decision brave but accurate. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright deemed the disallowance of the goal "undisputable," believing Raya could have caught the ball if unobstructed.

Slow-motion footage shows Pablo obstructing and Jean-Clair Todibo pulling Raya's shirt. Sky Sports

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey also defended the VAR team’s decision. Halsey told SunSport that the current season had seen too many controversies and inconsistencies regarding pulling fouls in the penalty area. He explained that when the ball is swung in from a corner, almost everything happens inside the box, potentially involving 10 or 12 different fouls. However, referees focus on the most obvious infringements. Halsey noted that Pablo clearly obstructed David Raya, and Jean-Clair Todibo further pulled Raya's shirt, causing the goalkeeper to lose balance.

Halsey believed VAR correctly fulfilled its role in a situation difficult for the referee to fully observe in real time. He emphasized the immense pressure on England and Kavanagh, calling it a very important decision, but stated that in his view, they made the correct call.

Conversely, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel strongly criticized the decision to disallow West Ham's goal. Speaking on Viaplay, the former Danish goalkeeper argued that Arsenal had benefited from similar contentious situations multiple times this season, making the disallowance of West Ham’s goal inconsistent.

Schmeichel also criticized the nearly five-minute VAR process. He suggested that England’s continuous review indicated the VAR team lacked certainty before making a final decision. The former Manchester United goalkeeper asserted that if a play required such extensive analysis, it could not be considered a clear and obvious error. He concluded that the VAR decision was "wrong in many aspects" and labeled the entire incident "crazy."

The controversial VAR decision could impact both the Premier League title race and the relegation battle this season. With the 1-0 victory, Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the table with 79 points, five points ahead of Manchester City, having played one more game with only two rounds remaining.

Meanwhile, West Ham faced relegation risk. They remained in 18th place with 36 points and could see Tottenham (37 points) extend their lead to four points. In a late match on 11/5, Tottenham will play Leeds at their home ground, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Hong Duy (via Sky Sports)