Arsenal v West Ham Disallowed Goal: Referee Made Right Decision - Howard Webb - BBC Sport West Ham’s injury-time goal was disallowed in a high-stakes Premier League clash against Arsenal, with referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England ruling out the equalizer. The decision gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory, extending their lead at the top of the table and indirectly influencing the title race involving Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. The incident sparked intense debate among managers, fans, and officials, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praising the VAR’s “courage” and West Ham’s Nuno Espirito Santo criticizing the “lack of consistency” in refereeing. Referees’ chief Howard Webb defended the decision during a post-match interview on Match Officials Mic’d Up, emphasizing that the foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was clear and unambiguous. Webb stated that the contact involved an opponent grabbing Raya’s arms, impeding his ability to play the ball. “Categorically yes, it’s a foul on the goalkeeper,” Webb said, reiterating that the incident aligned with pre-season briefings for referees. He highlighted that the contact fell under a specific category of offenses where goalkeepers are hindered from performing their duties, noting that Raya was “unable to do what he would normally do” in the situation. The VAR’s involvement was central to the decision. Audio from the VAR review revealed a detailed analysis of the incident, with Darren England and assistant VAR Akil Howson scrutinizing multiple angles. The VAR team identified the foul on Raya as the “most significant contact,” despite initial on-field confusion.#arsenal #mikel_arteta #west_ham #chris_kavanagh #darren_england
