Arsenal’s tense 1-0 win over West Ham has added another major talking point to an already dramatic Premier League title race.
Leandro Trossard’s late goal looked to have secured a crucial victory for Mikel Arteta’s side, but the match exploded into controversy deep into stoppage time when Callum Wilson appeared to equalise for the Hammers.
After a lengthy VAR review, referee Chris Kavanagh overturned the goal, ruling that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had been fouled in the build-up.
The decision protected Arsenal’s lead, kept them five points clear of Manchester City, and sparked fierce debate over whether the correct call had been made.
Carragher shares opinion on latest Arsenal controversy
Jamie Carragher offered a strong view on the controversy during his Sky Sports analysis.
The former Liverpool defender argued that Arsenal are not necessarily treated differently by officials, but he believes they have developed a reputation for pushing the limits in several areas of the game.
Carragher said Arsenal’s aggressive approach to set-pieces, touchline behaviour and penalty-box battles has made rival fans feel they regularly “get away with it”.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said, as reported by The Standard:
“This all started with Arsenal two or three seasons ago putting 15 players in a six yard box and the reason people are annoyed with Arsenal, and feel they’ve got away with it, is that this is a football club who push the boundaries in every area to try and gain an advantage – that’s why they are disliked.
“The manager stands on the edge of the touchline, putting the opposition’s left wing or right back off, screaming down his ear. Gabriel going down on the floor anytime someone breaths on him.
“The goalkeeper being the first one to take the atmosphere in a stadium to another degree and what they do at set pieces. That’s why there’s this feeling ‘they do it every week, how are they getting away with it’. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a foul.”
Arteta is getting closer to league title
Arteta, unsurprisingly, defended the officials and praised the referee for making what he saw as a brave decision under huge pressure. West Ham, meanwhile, were left furious after believing they had earned a valuable point.
Arsenal may view the West Ham win as another sign of champions finding a way through difficult moments, but the controversy will not disappear quickly.
Arsenal are admired for their intensity and detail, yet disliked by many rivals for the way they test the boundaries, as per Carragher.
What matters most for Arteta is the result. With only two league games remaining, Arsenal remain in control of their title destiny.
But if they do go on to lift the Premier League trophy, this dramatic VAR escape at the London Stadium may be remembered as one of the defining moments of their season.
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