Referee Chris Kavanagh was left baffled by his VAR colleagues when deciding Arsenal and West Ham’s fate in the biggest call of the season on Sunday.
The ref asked to be given a ‘clue’ as he reviewed footage of Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time equaliser, which he eventually ruled out.
Kavanagh adjudged that West Ham forward Pablo fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya shortly before Wilson’s strike.
But Assistant VAR Akil Howson was concerned at how Leandro Trossard appeared to push Pablo into the stopper just before the foul – something Kavanagh dismissed.
His call led to Arsenal’s 1-0 victory, a result which could decide the Premier League title, and left West Ham in serious trouble in the relegation zone with two games to play.
But Sky Sports’ Match Officials Mic’d Up show revealed how Kavanagh had been flustered when asked to consider whether Leandro Trossard had pushed Pablo himself before that.
After Kavanagh conceded that Pablo had his left arm across Raya, he was told that he was going to be shown angles showing incidents involving other players.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was left baffled while reviewing footage of Callum Wilson’s equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday
He asked for a ‘clue’ over what to look for surrounding Pablo’s foul on David Raya
‘You’ve got Declan Rice and you’ve got [Leandro] Trossard,’ said assistant VAR Akil Howson.
Kavanagh replied: ‘I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.’
After being asked to look at Trossard potentially shoving Pablo into Raya, Kavanagh said: ‘I don’t think there’s much in that at all, I’m happy with that.’
He was also asked to review a potential foul by Rice on West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, to which he answered: ‘But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.’
The transcript shows how many factors officials are having to juggle when making high-profile decisions and to some extent explains the delay VAR interruptions can cause.
It took four minutes and 17 seconds between Wilson firing into the back of the net and a foul being awarded. They required 17 replays.
Howard Webb explained the decision on Match Officials Mic’d Up, saying: ‘Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Categorically, yes.
‘We’ve said all season, including in pre-season briefings with the players, that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms and therefore they can’t do their job, they’ll be penalised.
The box was crowded with players locked in a physical battle as West Ham pushed for a goal
‘We’re not just talking about contact with goalkeepers, we’re talking about a specific type of contact when the goalkeeper’s arms or hands are being interfered with, stopping them doing their job.’
He added: ‘A key player in this moment, of course, is the goalkeeper, who has got a unique ability to use his hands. And in what we see in this situation, different to the other situations around the penalty area is that the goalkeeper can’t do that job because of that very clear action by the attacker, preventing him from putting his arm up.
‘He is being held as well from behind by [Jean-Clair] Todibo. There are other pieces of contact from other players, from Arsenal players too, but the most significant contact undoubtedly is that on the goalkeeper. Stops him from doing something pretty routine of catching the ball. The arm’s across the neck, it’s on his arm. He can’t put his arms up, and we’ve said that we’ll penalise that. And we’ve been consistent in that particular aspect.’
Arsenal clung on to their 1-0 lead – given by Trossard’s first goal of 2026 – and went five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
West Ham’s defeat left them a point behind Tottenham, and that gap doubled when Roberto De Zerbi’s men drew 1-1 against Leeds on Monday night.
Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo was fuming at Kavanagh’s decision.
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‘All of us don’t understand what is a foul, what isn’t a foul,’ said Nuno. ‘I think even referees confuse themselves.
‘In recent seasons there’s been a lot of grappling, holding, almost like a wrestling situation,’ added Nuno. ‘And it’s upsetting. Sometimes it is (penalised), sometimes it’s not. And today it’s frustrating.
‘Because then you look at every corner in the Premier League, what’s happening? What is the barrier, what is the frontier of what is a foul and what is not a foul? I’m talking about the lack of consistency, I think everybody’s confused.
‘So I think it’s up to the referees to dictate what is a foul, what is allowed, what is not allowed. Because it seems like the rules have changed. And everybody feels confused and frustrated. The players don’t understand it.’
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen claimed it was the wrong decision and that the time it took to assess the decision was a factor.
‘Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players,’ said Bowen. ‘There’s lots of holding and grappling going on in the box. The keeper has to expect contact. There’s going to be tussles.
‘When you look at the screen for five minutes, you’ll find something. I’m sure if you look long enough, you’ll find something. Do I think it’s the right decision? No.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: ‘Today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history of two massive clubs who are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.
‘A call from the refs that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.
‘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 so the goal has to be disallowed.’
