Arteta: ‘Brave’ VAR call could alter Arsenal histo…

May 10, 2026 No Comments

Arteta says ‘brave’ VAR call could alter Arsenal historyplay’No question about it!’ – Michallik backs West Ham-Arsenal VAR decision (1:12)Janusz Michallik reacts to the decision to overturn Callum Wilson’s equaliser for West Ham vs. Arsenal. (1:12)James OlleyMay 10, 2026, 03:35 PM ETClose

James Olley is a senior soccer writer for ESPN.com. Read his archive here and follow him on Twitter: @JamesOlley.

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Mikel Arteta congratulated the match officials for disallowing West Ham’s 94th-minute equaliser — a decision he called brave and which leaves Arsenal on course to win the Premier League title.

The Gunners won 1-0 at London Stadium on Sunday as Leandro Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute strike was enough to reestablish a five-point lead at the top of the table over Manchester City.

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But the victory was not without huge controversy as substitute Callum Wilson thought he had scored a priceless goal in West Ham’s battle to avoid relegation only for VAR official Darren England to send referee Chris Kavanagh to the monitor.

After a lengthy review, the goal was chalked off and Arsenal held on to celebrate a vital victory.

“[It was] a call from the refs that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season. So when I have to be critical, I have been,” Arteta mentioned after the game. “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, I think it is an obvious error.

“It is a free kick and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations, because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.

“Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big is the referee’s job. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course, of two massive clubs that they are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.”

Ben White left the stadium in a knee brace with Arteta saying “it doesn’t look good” while Riccardo Calafiori was withdrawn at half-time with an unspecified problem.

Arsenal finish the Premier League season with games against Burnley and Crystal Palace. If they win out, they cannot be caught by City.