Mikel Arteta sends officials message after 'obvious error' in Arsenal win over West Ham | OneFootball

Gunners take another huge step towards the Premier League title after controversial finish

Mikel Arteta has congratulated the officials for their “brave” but “right” decision to rule out West Ham’s last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal.

The relegation-threatened Hammers thought they had snatched a valuable point against the leaders in Sunday’s high-stakes Premier League showdown at the London Stadium when Callum Wilson slammed home in the 95th minute following a corner, with Declan Rice well behind the line when he cleared the ball away.

The goal was initially given but then subject to a lengthy VAR review led by Darren England that took several minutes to complete, with the recommendation eventually made that referee Chris Kavanagh should consult the pitchside monitor after a check on a possible foul by West Ham striker Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

After watching multiple replays from different angles, Kavanagh ruled that a foul had indeed been committed and the decision to allow the goal was reversed, much to the fury of West Ham and manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Following Leandro Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute goal that came quickly after a vital save by Raya to deny Mateus Fernandes, Champions League finalists Arsenal held on for a huge 1-0 victory that sent them five points clear of Manchester City in the title race with only two games left to play this season as they look to end their 22-year drought, with Pep Guardiola’s side hosting Crystal Palace in their game in hand on Wednesday night.

Nuno and Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen both expressed their frustration with what Gary Neville labelled as the biggest moment in the history of VAR in the Premier League, questioning the lack of consistency in decision-making.

Vital win: Mikel Arteta celebrates after Arsenal hold on to beat West Ham in a huge result at both ends of the table

Getty

Arteta, though, believes the correct call was eventually made as he praised the officials for reaching the right conclusion amid such enormous pressure after an “obvious error”.

“A call from the refs that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they've been talking about all season,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “So when I have to be critical, I have been.

“And 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.

“And 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.”

He added: “Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big is the referee's job. Because you're talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course, of two massive clubs that they are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.”