- Arsenal benefited from a controversial VAR decision during their 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, May 10, 2026
- The win helped Arsenal move five points clear at the top of the table, and moved West Ham closer to relegation
- The extra two points won through the controversy will impact the Premier League title race against Manchester City
The Premier League table would have turned out otherwise without the video assistant referee (VAR) after Arsenal benefited from a controversial decision.
Arsenal defeated West Ham 1-0 at the London Stadium, thanks to Leandro Trosaard’s 83rd-minute strike to secure a massive three points in the title race.
Source: Getty Images
West Ham thought they had secured a vital point in their fight for relegation when Callum Wilson scored in the eighth minute of additional time, but VAR disallowed it.
Referee Chris Kavanagh initially allowed the goal, but a VAR check, which lasted four minutes and 17 replays, ruled Pablo Felipe fouled David Raya in the buildup to the goal.
Mikel Arteta called the referee bold for the decision and admitted that it was not an easy job, while West Ham wrote a letter to the PGMOL.
“Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big a referee’s job is. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course of two massive clubs that are fighting for their lives to achieve their objectives, and the pressure is huge. It gives you a lot of choice,” he said as quoted by Arsenal.com.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his disappointment, claiming that the referee forgot the idea of what a foul is and what it is not.
“Even the referees lost a little bit of the idea of what is a foul and what is not a foul,” he said as quoted by West Ham official website. “Today, the decision went against us. That’s why we are really, really upset, because it happened before and it was judged in a different way. That’s what upsets us.”
Read also
Premier League issues statement after West Ham’s 95th-minute goal is disallowed vs Arsenal
Premier League title race without VAR
According to Daily Star, the Premier League title race would have been at a different stage right now without the technology in use in the league this season.
Arsenal would only be a point ahead of Manchester City at the moment without VAR, as they have benefited an extra five points through it this season.
Source: Getty Images
Manchester City have only gained an extra point through the use of VAR, meaning that Arsenal would have been on 74 points and City on 73.
And with Pep Guardiola’s side having a game at hand, the title could have been in their control heading into the final weeks of the season.
How City could win title
Legit.ng previously explained how Manchester City could win the Premier League title despite Arsenal having a five-point advantage on the table.
The Citizens must win the remaining three matches and hope that the Gunners fail to pick up maximum points in their remaining two matches.
Source: Legit.ng