Sam Dean
Arsenal were the beneficiaries of one of the most contentious decisions in VAR history in the closing minutes of their 1-0 victory over West Ham.
West Ham had scored an equaliser, but after a long VAR check, the goal was ruled out owing to a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the build-up.
Gary Neville, on commentary for Sky Sports, called the incident “the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League”.
How West Ham scored
There were 94 minutes on the clock when Callum Wilson’s shot was blocked by Gabriel. From the resulting corner, West Ham sent goalkeeper Mads Hermansen forward, and he made a real nuisance of himself as he charged towards the ball.
As the corner was swung in, David Raya went to claim the ball, but it slipped through his hands and bounced slightly clear. It fell nicely for Wilson, who smashed the ball first time through a crowd of bodies and into the goal. Although Declan Rice cleared it away, he and the ball were some way over the goal-line.
Arsenal’s appeals were instantaneous. Raya approached referee Chris Kavanagh, as did his team-mates. On the touchline, so did Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, pointing to his arm to indicate that there had been a foul on his goalkeeper. The VAR, Darren England, opted to review the build-up to the goal.
The crucial VAR check
- As the corner flies over the six-yard box, players jostle for position. Declan Rice appears to hold Konstantinos Mavropanos with his left arm. Pablo, who is himself being held by Leandro Trossard, begins to stretch his arm across David Raya
- Pablo’s arm, extended across Raya’s throat, appears to prevent the Arsenal keeper from jumping to collect the ball
- Raya is unable to make a clean catch with Pablo’s hand on the goalkeeper’s left arm. But, behind him, Rice appears to take out West Ham’s Mavropanos
- Pictures from the opposite angle show Rice with his arms around Mavropanos. Immediately after this, the ball bounces clear for Wilson to score:
After viewing the incident on his pitch-side monitor, Kavanagh, the on-field referee, ruled out the goal, saying: “After review, West Ham number 19 [Pablo] commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free-kick.”
The reaction
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager: Arteta praised the “bravery” and “clarity” of the referees. “Today, I have realised how difficult and how big is the referee’s job,” he said. “Because you are talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.
“It was a call from the referees that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they have been talking about all season. So when I have to be critical [of the VAR officials], I have been. Today, I have to praise them, at least for giving the option to a referee to decide. Away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call. And when you look at the action in that way, I think it is an obvious error. It is a free-kick and the goal has to be disallowed. So, congratulations. Because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.”
Nuno, West Ham manager: “The way the game finished, we’re all upset of course. I didn’t pay attention to the replay just to not get more upset, but there’s a referee, there’s VAR, there’s circumstances in the past that would be judged different. Let’s not say much further than that. Even the referees don’t know what is a foul, what isn’t a foul. It creates a lot of doubt and speculation around it.
“You look at every corner in the Premier League, what’s happening? Something like this. Not only today, but in all the pitches. What is a foul and what is not a foul? It’s tough. Everybody is confused. The players don’t understand it.”
Gary Neville, on commentary for Sky Sports: “That is a monumental moment. The biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. The drama, the drama! If Arsenal are going to go on and win a title, this is the game that will go down in folklore. And Arsenal get over the line, and it’s a huge move towards their first Premier League title in 22 years. Have VAR got the courage to make the decision? This is massive for refereeing in this country…”
Ian Wright, in the Sky Sports Studio:“We have seen it now, he has got his arms across him, and he is impeding him. It was like a blessing!”
Roy Keane, on Sky Sports: “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.”
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham forward: “Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players, and there is a lot of holding inside the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? You can’t wipe a goalkeeper out, but the keeper has come in to grab the ball and has to expect contact. It’s the Premier League; there is going to be contact. I can guarantee that pundits and people watching know football is a physical game.”
Did the referee get it right? The verdict of Telegraph (London) writers
Jason Burt: My view is that it should be a goal. There is so much going on at that corner and one of the issues that does not appear to be addressed is what is Leandro Trossard doing? The Arsenal forward has his back to goal and is concentrating on stopping Pablo.
Does this force the West Ham attacker to raise his arm to try and reach the corner and therefore impede David Raya? Even the contact with the Arsenal goalkeeper is inconclusive. Finally, is it a clear and obvious error and is there such chaos happening that it is almost impossible to unpick?
Sam Dean: My view, when watching the replays on the small screens in the press box, was that it probably was a foul on Raya by Pablo. The West Ham striker has his arm across Raya’s throat as the Spaniard is jumping, and you can see that Raya is actually appealing before the ball even reaches the six-yard box.
However – and it really is a big “however” – I am not convinced it’s a clear and obvious error. Which, of course, is when VAR is supposed to be used. The length of time it took to make a decision points to it being not particularly obvious, although I can understand the referee taking his time over such an important call.
Two times Arsenal have got away with similar incidents this season
Riccardo Calafiori scores, Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal, Aug 17, 2025
Arsenal had a similar incident in the opening game of the season at Old Trafford. On that occasion, William Saliba tussled with goalkeeper Altay Bayindir in the Manchester United goal as Declan Rice’s corner came in. The goalkeeper could not get a solid hand to the ball and Calafiori nodded home from close range.
Gabriel scores, Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa, Dec 30, 2025
The Arsenal centre-back challenges Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the air at a corner. Pictures show Gabriel’s elbow making contact with Martinez’s face, but the ball bounces over the line and the goal – the opening one of the match – is awarded much to the visitors’ anger.
Telegraph, London
