'Away from the chaos, they gave clarity': Arteta hails ref after Arsenal's four minutes of hell

PORTRAIT OF RELIEF: Arsenal's Martin Odegaard (right), Leandro Trossard, Gabriel and Kai Havertz celebrate after the Premier League match at London Stadium, London. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire

West Ham United 0-1 Arsenal 

Just when it looked as though Arsenal might glide serenely towards the Premier League title in an avalanche of praise and glory, the chaos and controversy that have come to define this season delivered another extraordinary twist.

For more than four agonising minutes, Arsenal’s title dream and West Ham’s survival hopes hung on one VAR review. Callum Wilson thought he had rescued a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser that could yet have transformed the destiny of both clubs. Instead, after 17 replays and a delay lasting four minutes and 17 seconds, the goal was rightly ruled out for a foul by Pablo on David Raya.

Arsenal survived. West Ham were left furious and crestfallen.

Leandro Trossard’s 83rd-minute strike ultimately proved decisive as Arsenal edged to within touching distance of a first league title in 22 years, while West Ham remain staring anxiously over their shoulders, stuck below a relieved Tottenham in the relegation zone. Has an Arsenal win ever been celebrated in both halves of north London before?

The reaction at full-time captured the significance of the moment. Arsenal supporters stayed long after the final whistle, singing Trossard’s name amid scenes of thunderous celebration. Across the pitch, West Ham’s players collapsed to the turf in disbelief.

Mikel Arteta described it as “a phenomenal week in every sense” after his side followed their European exploits with another nerve-shredding victory.

“Well, what a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it’s been for us,” Arteta said. “I cannot praise enough the attitude, the desire, the courage and the quality of the team shown throughout this week because it was so much at stake.

“A call from the refs that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season. Today I have to praise them. Away from the lights and the chaos, they gave clarity to make the right call.

“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.” The Arsenal manager even acknowledged the wider ramifications of the decision.

“Today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is,” he added. “You’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course, of two massive clubs fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives.” That history looked set to take a damaging turn for Arsenal for much of an increasingly anxious afternoon.

Arteta’s side began superbly and somehow failed to score during a blistering opening spell in which they produced eight attempts inside the first 16 minutes. Trossard struck the post twice, while Riccardo Calafiori saw a header cleared off the line by former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Yet the visitors gradually lost control after Ben White was forced off injured following a heavy challenge. Arteta’s attempt to reshuffle by moving Declan Rice to right-back disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm and handed encouragement to a West Ham side initially content merely to survive.

The home crowd sensed vulnerability. Crunching tackles flew in, tempers frayed and the contest became increasingly frantic and scrappy.

Later, with the game drifting towards stalemate, the Arsenal goalkeeper produced an even more important intervention when he denied Mateus Fernandes one-on-one.

“When you talk about magic moments, this is certainly one of the most needed moments as well,” Arteta said of Raya’s save. “It was incredible.” West Ham, meanwhile, appeared increasingly satisfied with a point that could have proved precious in the survival battle. But Arteta’s changes finally altered the momentum.

Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz were introduced for the closing stages and the Arsenal captain immediately injected urgency and creativity into a sluggish attacking display.

The breakthrough eventually arrived seven minutes from time. Odegaard drifted into space and threaded a clever pass into Trossard, who drilled a low finish clinically beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

It was the Belgian’s first league goal of 2026 and perhaps none will prove more important.

“Martin came in and had an incredible impact,” Arteta said. “And Trossard is a player that makes a difference for us.” Yet even then the drama was far from over.

Deep into stoppage time, Wilson struck superbly home from a corner and the stadium erupted. Some Arsenal supporters headed immediately for the exits in horror. Others stood frozen as VAR intervened.

Replays showed Pablo extending his arm across Raya’s chest, preventing the goalkeeper from attempting to claim the ball. Eventually referee Chris Kavanagh overturned the goal, triggering fury among the home support and immense relief among the travelling fans.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo refused to hide his frustration.

“The way the game finished, we’re all upset of course,” he said. “There’s a referee, there’s VAR, there’s circumstances in the past that would be judged different. Even the referees don’t know what is a foul and what isn’t.” Captain Jarrod Bowen was even more direct.

“When you look at the screen for five minutes you’ll find something,” Bowen said. “Corners are physical. If you give that you have to give all the holding calls in the world. Do I think it’s the right decision? No.” 

Arsenal, however, will not care. With Burnley and Crystal Palace remaining, the title is now firmly within reach. For West Ham, the outlook is far darker. Defeat leaves them perilously close to the drop and facing a desperate final fortnight.

West Ham: Hermansen 8, Wan-Bissaka 7, Disasi 6 (Wilson 85), Mavropanos 7, Todibo 6, Diouf 6, Soucek 6, Fernandes 5, Summerville 6, Bowen 6, Castellanos 5 (Pablo 66). Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

Arsenal: Raya 6, White 6 (Zubimendi 28, Havertz 67), Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Calafiori 7 (Mosquera 46), Lewis-Skelly 7, Rice 5, Eze 5 (Odegaard 67), Trossard 7, Saka 5 (Madueke 80), Gyokeres 6. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Martinelli, Dowman.

Ref: Chris Kavanagh 4