Monday’s briefing: VAR offers Gunners a lift, Hammers heading downhill, Up Dale
Arsenal took a huge step towards securing the Premier League title in a dramatic late finish at West Ham.
They did, however, need some help from a very late VAR intervention.
Further down the football pyramid Rochdale got their reward for an impressive season with a hugely-important Wembley win.
Arteta praises ‘brave’ officials for VAR call
Mikel Arteta congratulated the “brave” match officials for overturning an “obvious error” in Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 win against West Ham which edges them closer to a first Premier League title in 22 years.
Leandro Trossard fired Arteta’s side ahead with just seven minutes remaining before Callum Wilson appeared to deal a hammer blow to the Gunners’ championship aspirations – and a crucial boost to West Ham’s hopes of survival – in stoppage time.
But after referee Chis Kavanagh was sent to the on-pitch monitor by VAR, and then watched an extraordinary 17 replays of the flashpoint, he elected to chalk off the equaliser, with Pablo Felipe adjudged to have fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
West Ham were furious with the decision, but for Arsenal it takes them five points clear of City, and leaves them only two matches away from the title.
And Arteta said: “It was a call from the ref that is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.
“When I have to be critical, I have been. 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, it is an obvious error.”
‘Biggest VAR moment in history’ – Neville
Gary Neville felt the VAR system passed its biggest test yet after a dramatic late intervention in Arsenal’s victory over West Ham on Sunday.
The relegation-threatened Hammers looked to have snatched a 1-1 draw against the title-chasing Gunners when Callum Wilson struck in stoppage time at the London Stadium.
But after a long review, in a decision that has significant ramifications at both ends of the table, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya by Pablo.
“This is an earthquake, a tremor of a moment,” said former Manchester United and England defender Neville.
“It is probably the biggest moment in VAR history in the Premier League. This is massive.
“I think it’s a foul – but have VAR got the nerve, the guts, the courage to make the decision? This is massive for refereeing in this country. This is too big to get wrong.”
Moyes sees Europe slipping away
David Moyes admitted Everton’s hopes of qualifying for Europe are drifting away after they twice threw away the lead to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Jean-Philippe Mateta swept in 14 minutes from time to rescue Palace as two points slipped away in the visitors’ hunt for a top-seven finish.
“I’d hoped we can get us to a level where we can be competitive again at European level. It’s not gone yet but it’s drifting away from us at the moment,” said Moyes.
“I’m using the word ‘disappointing’ again that we couldn’t hang on, especially after we went 2-1 up.
“Our key finishers this season, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye, they’re just both going slightly off the ball as far as their finishing goes.”
Runners-up Rochdale book EFL return
Rochdale produced a dramatic late fightback from 2-0 down to clinch promotion back to the EFL with a penalty shoot-out victory over Boreham Wood.
The Wood looked set for glory in the Enterprise National League play-off final at Wembley after striking in each half through Matt Rush and the lively Abdul Abdulmalik.
Dale, who were denied automatic promotion in heartbreaking fashion on the final day of the regular season, pulled one back in the 78th minute through Tyler Smith and Mani Dieseruvwe’s header made it 2-2 deep into stoppage time.
Neither side could find a winner in extra time but Rochdale prevailed 3-1 on penalties after goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff, on loan from Manchester City, saved from Callum Reynolds and Rush before Cameron Coxe hit the crossbar.
What’s on today?
Tottenham have the chance to take a huge step towards Premier League safety at home to now-safe Leeds as a win would put them four points clear of 18th-placed West Ham with two matches remaining.
Millwall will hope to benefit from home advantage as they host Hull with their Championship play-off semi-final second leg goalless.
