Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the bravery of match officials after a dramatic late equalizer for West Ham was disallowed in a 1-0 Premier League win at the London Stadium. Callum Wilson’s 95th-minute strike for 18th-placed West Ham was ruled offside after a 4-minute VAR review revealed Pablo’s arm blocked David Raya’s save. Referee Chris Kavanagh watched 17 replays before confirming the decision, with 3 minutes and 35 seconds elapsed from the ball crossing the line to the final ruling.

Arteta lauded the VAR team: "They needed courage to scrutinize such a tight call." He emphasized consistency: "The foul was clear. They upheld the rules." The result kept Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City at the top with two games remaining, while West Ham lost ground in the relegation battle, trailing Tottenham by one point.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo avoided commenting but questioned refereeing clarity: "There’s confusion about what constitutes a foul." Forward Jarrod Bowen defended Raya: "Goalkeepers face physicality weekly. If penalties are given, they must be consistent." He noted a similar incident at Brentford went unpunished, highlighting inconsistency.

The match underscored ongoing debates about Premier League officiating standards, with late-game decisions potentially altering title races and relegation fights.