Arsenal can almost touch title as VAR lottery pushes West Ham towards the drop

WEST HAM 0-1 ARSENAL: VAR dramatically took centre stage in the closing moments of a game which has had major implications at both ends of the Premier League table

That was pure torture for Arsenal.

The title race stalled, swung in Arsenal’s favour and then VAR settled it. That is modern football for you. It was settled by two referees in a video control room. How did it come to this? No-one is quite sure and, for once, Arsenal were not complaining about a referee’s decision.

No, that was left to West Ham because defeat leaves them on the brink of relegation after an ugly, bitter and horrible scrap. It might actually be the biggest VAR decision in Premier League history.

Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead after 83 minutes and, ultimately, his goal is the one that decided it and pushes Mikel Arteta’s men towards their first title in 22 years. But that was only half the story. West Ham never gave up and thought they had snatched a 95th minute equaliser when Callum Wilson fired in through a crowd of players after a corner.

READ MORE: Arsenal close in on the title as Leandro Trossard and VAR sink West Ham – 6 talking pointsREAD MORE: Gary Neville makes huge VAR claim after West Ham vs Arsenal drama

West Ham celebrated wildly, the stadium erupted and Arsenal appealed in desperation for referee Chris Kavanagh to have another look.

Kavanagh was sent to his screen and it was there for all to see: amid all the shirt-pulling, West Ham substitute Pablo had got his am across Arsenal keeper David Raya. It was a clear foul even though, let’s be honest, no-one is quite sure these days. Handball, push and grappling. It is all a bit of a lottery.

You have to accept West Ham fans will be furious because they are fighting for their lives and this defeat might ultimately end up relegating them.

But Arsenal went through hell in one game. They played poorly, Arteta got all his substitutions and decisions wrong and they nearly blew it.

The title race rollercoaster played out in the space of just over ten crazy minutes and the sense of relief was obvious when Arsenal’s players went over to the away fans after the final whistle. They will know they got away with one in what might be the biggest win, biggest goal and then biggest let-off in the whole of the season.

Arsenal now need two wins – against relegated Burnley and at Crystal Palace on the final day – to ensure they are crowned champions. But this felt like the biggest one of all.

Arteta’s men looked nervous, they looked as if they had lost their bottle and definitely ran out of ideas. They started well enough and came so close to breaking the deadlock through Riccardo Calafiori and Trossard twice headed against the crossbar from the same corner melee.

But then Arsenal dried up. Ben White got injured and, inexplicably, Arteta brought on Martin Zubimendi and switched Declan Rice to right back. Rice had been Arsenal’s driving force and then they lost all momentum.

West Ham had their moments and Raya made a sensational save to thwart Mateus Fernandes. The game was slipping away from Arsenal.

Arteta made a raft of changes – including Noni Madueke for Zubimendi as the substitute was substituted – and it was Martin Odegaard who really made the difference. He effectively won the game. It was his driving run into the box, his cut back and then Trossard’s low shot through a crowd of players flew into the bottom corner.

Arsenal thought that was the game. But West Ham laid siege to the Arsenal box. They are now in a head-to-head with Tottenham for survival and they were not about to give up.

Arsenal largely looked comfortably until Wilson saw a shot brilliantly blocked by Gabriel. The Hammers forced a corner and then all hell let loose. The corner swung in, chaos ensued as there was grappling, pushing and a goal disallowed by VAR at the end of it.

Ultimately, the decision might end up deciding the title. That may end up being the title right there. Arsenal got away with one because they did not play well. But it was the right decision.

It was so tough on West Ham. But Arsenal can dream now. The title is within grasp.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.