Arsenal’s Premier League title chase and West Ham’s relegation fight took controversial turns with a last-gasp equalizer overturned by VAR as the Gunners won a tense London derby 1-0 at the London Stadium on Sunday.
MORE — Bowen, Nuno reaction | Mikel Arteta reaction
Callum Wilson had slashed home a stoppage-time equalizer for West Ham but a long VAR review that seemingly eyed contact between several players eventually determined that David Raya was fouled before Wilson had the chance to get to the ball.
The call itself might’ve not been controversial in previous seasons, but Arsenal’s physical play on attacking corners has led to lax foul-calling in the box. There is situational irony, however, in the defensive call going in Arsenal’s favor to keep a firm grip on the title fight.
WATCH — West Ham v Arsenal full match replay
Leandro Trossard needed a late goal just to put Arsenal in front, and the Gunners are five points clear of second-place Man City. Arsenal have two matches left, while City have three.
West Ham remain a point behind 17th-place Tottenham Hotspur, who have one more game left than the Irons in the fight to stay in the Premier League.
David Raya’s clean sheets are a team affair and Arsenal’s back line deserves plenty of credit for the zeroes kept by the Gunners keeper this season, but Sunday was very much about Raya and the referees.
Raya made two sensational saves well before Arsenal got the rub of the green as VAR took its time in reviewing a would-be late equalizer from West Ham and took it away from the Irons for a hold on the goalkeeper.
The situational irony was delicious for a neutral, as Arsenal have been corner kick aggressors this season going back to Week 1 when Altay Bayindir was impeded from getting a corner and the Gunners took a lead over Manchester United.
In a vacuum, Raya was fouled. Full stop. But that call has not been consistently made in the Premier League this season and the long review of this play allowed the world to see multiple Arsenal infringements on West Ham players that were just as egregious.
It’s wild that the season-long controversy over how corner kicks are officiated may’ve just played a huge rule in deciding the Premier League title and relegation races.
Arsenal host Burnley at 3pm ET Monday, May 18, then finish the Premier League season away to Palace before the Champions League Final on May 30 versus Paris Saint-Germain at Puskas Arena in Hungary.
West Ham go to Newcastle United at 12:30pm ET Sunday before finishing the season — and maybe their Premier League tenure — at home to Leeds United on May 24.
Leandro Trossard 84'
“[The referees] were very brave to at least give the opportunity [of a pitch side review] and I think the action deserves that.
“It could’ve gone either way. We know the rules and we ask for consistency.”
For more, here’s everything Arteta said in that interview.
“Listen when you’re looking at a screen for five minutes, in the end you’re going to find something that you were sent over there to find. Do I think it’s the right decision? No, but you have to accept it.”
“That’s the frustration — where’s the consistency? As a fan you’re a viewer you don’t want to be waiting eight minutes and then have it taken away. It’s the most physical league in the world. It’s why everyone loves it. In corners you have to expect contact. If you’re going to give decisions like that you have to given all the holding calls in the world. We had one with Tomas Soucek getting held at Brentford that wasn’t given as a penalty.”
“He’s coming out of his six-yard box, he’s gotta expect some contact. Where’s the line? ... Take that away we’ve lost the game in a game we knew we’d have to be good in our shape.”
“A real blow. We thought we’d done so well to get back into this game, taking nothing away from a decision that will be queried about the next couple of weeks.”
This will not be a fun discussion but it’s worthwhile.
Arsenal have changed the way the game is officiated on corner kicks with their flagrant physical play.
They may win the PL title on a decision fueled by a long review for a foul on David Raya.
The team known for fouling in the box on corner kicks is going to get a reprieve for a late equalizer because of a long review of a foul on their keeper.
It shakes up a title and relegation race. Wow.
Todibo had his arm across Raya as the keeper leapt to catch it.
But it’s touch-and-go, and it’s taking a long time to review this.
Mavropanos knocks down a desperation cross and Callum Wilson settles it with his chest.
His shot is blocked out bravely by Gabriel Magalhaes, but West Ham score on the ensuing corner.
Wilson blasts home through traffic with the GDS signaling a goal.
VAR now taking a big look at possible interference from Jean-Clair Todibo on Raya.
Can West Ham rescue a point?
Heartbreak for West Ham (and Man City) as Arsenal make a title move while also uplifting the hopes of their heated rivals Spurs.
It’s Leandro Trossard who powers a shot through Hermansen in the 83rd minute to finally push the Gunners in front.
Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice work a 1-2 and the former finds Trossard for what can only be described as a potentially-huge winner.
Mateus Fernandes works a 1-2 with Felipe and is on the doorstep.
1v1 with Raya, he gives him the eyes and goes the other way but Raya gets his right leg in front of the ball.
Wow.
The way they reacted, you’d think there was some dastardly handiwork from Pablo Felipe in the box.
The ball first hit Gabriel and Felipe was prone on the turf, trying to keep his arm from touching the ball.
It would’ve been among the worst penalties you’ve seen.
West Ham are making a change up top, as Pablo Felipe will replace Valentin “Taty” Castellanos in the 66th minute.
Arsenal respond with two stars as subs: Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are into the game for Zubimendi and Eze.
Bukayo Saka’s been baffled by accuracy but is showing intent to work the Gunners in front through his left foot.
For the second time this half, Saka worked himself into a yard of space outside the 18 only to slash the ball a few yards over the frame.
0-0, 59'.
Cristhian Mosquera comes in for Riccardo Calafiori at the break.
The reporting is that Calafiori does not have an injury.
This could just be a tweak after putting Zubimendi into the game following the injury to White, which moved Declan Rice to right back.
If it finishes this way, both the relegation and title races could be set for goal differential tiebreakers in two weeks.
Arsenal have held 67% of the ball and ripped off 10 shot attempts to West Ham’s two, but the Irons have done enough to threaten three points not just one.
It’s a good watch with plenty of anxiety and tension.
xG is 0.79-0.14 in favor of the first-place visitors. West Ham’s Summerville and Castellanos enter the second half on yellow.
What a phenomenal save from the Arsenal keeper!
Aaron Wan-Bissaka sends a terrific cross in from the right extreme of the pitch.
Castellanos is on the right side of Saliba and heads toward the open goal by Raya flies to his right and slaps it away from goal for a corner kick.
The Irons threaten twice at the other end.
The first rush leads to a shot that goes out for a goal kick and the second sees Crysencio Summerville cautioned as he lunged for a loose ball and smashed into the knee of Gabriel Magalhaes.
0-0, 38'.
Martin Zubimendi is bundled over by Castellanos about 8-10 yards beyond the arc.
Eberechi Eze stands over a free kick after a debate with Declan Rice... and smashes the ball into the wall.
0-0, 36'.
It looks like Arsenal back Ben White is going to need to exit the game before the half-hour mark after considerable treatment on his knee.
Martin Zubimendi is going to come into the game, and Declan Rice — not Myles Lewis-Skelly — is moving to right back.
Trossard wins a free kick on the left wing and Rice whips in a beauty.
Riccardo Calafiori’s flick is blocked and leads to a Taty Castellanos half-clearance and a strong block from ex-Arsenal man Konstantinos Mavropanos.
0-0, 23'.
Rice swings in a far-post corner and Mads Hermansen makes a terrific reaction save on Leandro Trossard’s header.
Trossard then heads off the post, and there are several desperate 50/50s just to get to another corner.
This time it’s from the right and Bukayo Saka’s corner is headed over by Gabriel Magalhaes.
0-0, 11'.
West Ham’s fans may love Declan Rice when all is said and done but the ex-Irons superstar is hearing boos on every touch of the ball early at his old home.
0-0, 4'.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s teams know how to defend but has the veteran boss figured out what made Arsenal look so much more lively last time out?
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice found a lot of joy in the midfield and will look to do the same here.
Starting XI: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville, Castellanos
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Felipe, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante
No place in the team for Max Kilman or Kyle Walker-Peters, as it looks like a back five.
Starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Magalhaes, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Havertz, Zubimendi, Dowman
Wow, that is some bench. A healthy Arsenal is super dangerous but it’s difficult to argue against the production from last time out.
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (May 10)
Venue: London Stadium — East London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA
