Arsenal started looking as if they would roll over the Hammers with several chances going close in the first ten minutes: However on good save, some great defending and a bit of luck saw the Hammers weather the first storm and finish the half strongly, Castellanos coming close with a diving header well saved by Raya. The worry was that we’ve seen this before from our West Ham side who fall away in the second half.
Strangely Arteta decided to move Declan Rice to right back after an injury to Ben White – clearly not his best position and Summerville’s couple of decent runs late on in the half came after showing Rice a clean pair of heels. Surely Arteta would rejig at half time? Summarising at the break, Theo Walcott and Owen Hargreaves both agreed that moving Rice had handed the momentum to the Hammers.
Arsenal reset, taking off Calafiori, arguably their most threatening first half player, to add Mosquera at right back.
Again West Ham grew into the half with more shots on target as the game wore on. Bowen had a shot well saved by Raya and the hammers certainly weren’t going meekly. Energy levels started to drop and despite the introduction of Pablo for Taty, West Ham needed fresh legs.
And then – drama – Fernandes’ one two with Pablo was saved point blank by Raya – that was the Hammers’ moment. That was the game. Once moment, one chance, to the excellent Fernandes, through on goal but Raya smothered it. Brilliant play, wrong player: You’d back Bowen or Summerville to have buried it. Ironically it was West Ham’s best player today who fluffed his lines.
Five minutes later and Trossard had put Arsenal ahead.
Nuno Espírito Santo again delayed and delayed when his Hammers side clearly had tired legs: Waiting until the Irons went behind before bring into on Callum Wilson chasing an equaliser. The changes needed to be made ten minutes earlier to respond immediately to Arteta’s moves. The West Ham manager cut a lonely figure on the touchline. That goal means Leeds and Forest are now mathematically safe.
And then after 96 minutes, Wilson stepped up to volley in from 18 yards and suddenly VAR were involved – chaos. Ruled out. Disgraceful. Pablo’s hand in front of Raya. I have no words for that -which I can type without being fired. . No mention of Rice rugby tackling Mavropanos. No mention of the wrestling matches all over the penalty box. Stitched up. If that had been down the other end, that goal would have stood. You know it and I know it. Dis-gust-ing.
“Incredibly harsh” on West Ham said Owen Hargreaves. He’s not wrong.
It isn’t VAR that is ruining the game it is the level of cheating from the players. Arsenal have been the biggest culprits all season. They clearly target all the threats the opposition have at set pieces and block, pull and do whatever it takes to prevent anyone getting to the ball. Arteta and his set piece coach should be ashamed of themselves
Hi John
Yes I agree he did impede but there were three fouls which warranted penalties to us. Rice commuting two of them, but no t even looked at
So unfair that decision won Arsenal the league, I would think city will be very upset by that totally bias var.
We do really need to get a better standard of var officials
Have to agree it looked like raya was off balanced, really sick after a good all round performance. Diouf kept saka quite , thats a well done . Plenty of gutsy performances out there today . You never know but thought for a while we would go down. Things to look forward to , sullivan to go , no var and perhaps the opportunity to compete on more of a level playing field , fed up with big 6,s domination of the game . 60 years a fan and will always be likewise my son and the grandkids .
I was at the game the crowd was absolutely furious and rightly so. VAR was meant to correct clear and obvious errors if it takes 5 minutes to cowardly pass the buck on to the ref then how was it clear and obvious
goalkeeper got the ball so shouldnt be a foul LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY ARSENAL THIS LEAGUE IS SO CORRUPT SICK OF IT if had been at the other end it would have been given Seen goals like that all season been given No wonder everybody in this country hate Arsenal
Agree with you 100% the foul on Mav started well before the ball reached Arsenal goalkeeper supposed to be fouled. Mav was looking to get into a position that the ball looked to be heading. If the goalkeeper was fouled then Mav definitely was. So it’s either penalty or goal. Darren England needs to hand his notice in Monday morning for poor gutless refereeing.
I am gutted
Var stinks
3 rugby tackles on our players which all warranted penalties
If it was the other way goal would have stood
The FA have got to sort out before next season all holding of players,watching that disallowed goal was like watching a wrestling match
Very hard done by after a great performance by the boys who deserved the draw
Come on you Irons
I feel for the team after so much effort, but the var decision disallowing the goal was correct.
Sorry no, the foul / rugby tackle on Mav started well before the ball reached the goal keeper and Mav was trying to get to the area the ball was travelling. So penalty or goal stands. Secondly was the referees first decision a clear and obvious mistake, No
Sadly are manager doesn’t realise that a point is no good anymore. VAR has ruined the game I grew up loving
It took all that time to work out how they could disallow that goal. There should be a time limit.
We were dead at Christmas, then started a run for survival which looked like succeeding. Sadly luck has deserted us in the last two games and you have to think that’s it now. COYI!
Yes, you are correct. At the very least, West Ham should have had a penalty for Rice’s foul on Mavropanos – not to mention Pablo being held , & consequently being unable to avoid his arm contacting Raya. And that was the essential point, Pablo had his forearm on Raya’s chest & was consequently unable to do anything to remove it because he was, himself, being held. This is the sort of injustice which West Ham frequently have to endure. Regardless of what the pundits say, that was a goal, or at least a penalty. Shameful decision. However, as I said before the game, West Ham have left it too late to avoid relegation. As simple as that, I am afraid. Blame the season on yourself, boys.
I shall be very unpopular for saying this, but Pablo did impede Raya it was a foul, correct decision.
We will now become the first team relegated by VAR 😭
I don’t mind be screwed but kiss me first. How much longer are we going to put up with these terrible decisions costing us the Premier League ? Time to go to Court about the FA , VAR and their awful referees and deal with the Paqueta fiasco at the same time.
The thing that really annoys me about VAR incidents like this was at least three if not four West Ham players were grabbed by Arsenal players holding them back and it never gets discussed let alone penalised. This happens all the time now in football and needs to be stopped