Arsenal have been left thankful for a late goal – and an even later, dramatic VAR call – to stay in control of the Premier League title race.
A 1-0 win over relegation-threatened West Ham on Monday morning (AEST) restored Arsenal’s five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, and came with a huge dose of controversy.
Leading through Leandro Trossard’s 83rd-minute goal, Arsenal looked as if they’d thrown away two crucial points, and their slim advantage in the title race, when West Ham substitute Callum Wilson lashed a shot over the line at a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.
But Arsenal’s players complained and there was a long video review, which spotted West Ham player Pablo had his left arm across the face of David Raya as the Arsenal goalkeeper attempted to get to the ball after the corner was swung in.
Referee Chris Cavanagh viewed 17 replays on the pitchside monitor and, more than four minutes after the ball had crossed the line, chose to rule out the goal.
“This is an earthquake, a tremor of a moment,” Manchester United legend Gary Neville said on Sky Sports. “It is probably the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. This is massive.”
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo opted not to address that decision directly, but was critical of the refereeing overall.
“Look, there is a referee and VAR, there is circumstances in the past that have been judged differently. Let’s not go further than that.
“Due to the recent seasons, it has been happening (similar incidents),” Nuno said on Sky Sports. “Even the referees don’t know what is a foul and what is not a foul.”
Arsenal boss Mike Arteta was for more complimentary, praising the match officials for being “brave” in what could turn out to be the defining moment of this Premier League season.
“When I had to be critical, I have been,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “Today I have to congratulate them (VAR).
“You needed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action.
“When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave.
“The action deserved that. In my opinion, it is very clear. They are the rules and we ask for consistency.”
🚨 Jarrod Bowen on disallowed goal: “When you look at the screen for five minutes you'll find something”.
“Do I think it's the right decision? No. Where's the consistency? As a fan you don't want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it's taken off you”. pic.twitter.com/xGm4tKrb4a
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 10, 2026
🚨🗣️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Peter Schmeichel: "Arsenal have been blocking the opponent's goalkeeper all season long, they would NEVER be on top of the league if we disallow these goals!"
— ViaPlay pic.twitter.com/YdrcnGcMMX — The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) May 10, 2026
Definitely no foul right? 😂 pic.twitter.com/pkFCuRnXsJ — HandofArsenal (@HandofArsenal) May 10, 2026
For Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, it was a “big moment for us.”
“We had to dig deep — to try and try and try — and we got there in the end,” he said.
It was a VAR decision that has huge ramifications at both ends of the standings.
It left Arsenal two wins from a first league title since 2004, with games to come at home to already-relegated Burnley and, in the final round, away to a Crystal Palace team that might field a weakened line-up with their Conference League final only three days later.
It also left West Ham a point adrift of safety, in third-to-last place with two games remaining. Fourth-to-last Tottenham can move four points clear of the relegation zone with a win over Leeds on Monday.
Nottingham Forest, who drew 1-1 with Newcastle with a late leveller from Elliot Anderson against his former club, are now safe along with Leeds, so it’s a two-team fight between West Ham and Spurs to avoid the final relegation spot. [embedded content]
It was a huge blow to City, who have three games left — against Palace at home on Wednesday, Bournemouth away on May 19 and Aston Villa at home on the final day.
Even three wins look as if they won’t now be enough for City to pull off a seventh title success in Pep Guardiola’s 10-year reign.
Arsenal are still in sight of a Premier League-Champions League double, having reached the final of Europe’s top competition against Paris Saint-Germain on May 31 AEST.
Aston Villa still have work to secure Champions League qualification after being held 2-2 at already-relegated Burnley.
That kept Villa in fifth place, behind Liverpool on goal difference and four points above sixth-place Bournemouth in the race to finish in the top-five and get into Europe’s top competition. [embedded content]
All three teams have two games left, with Villa and Bournemouth still having to play Man City.
Villa’s players have another possible route into next season’s Champions League — by winning the Europa League.
If they do that and finish fifth in the league, then the team that places sixth — currently Bournemouth, though Brighton are only two points further back — would also qualify.