Jamie Carragher believes the only people who take issue with the VAR decision that invalidated the Hammers’ equalizer against Arsenal on Sunday are those who don’t want Arsenal to win the Premier League title.
In a decision already described by Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville as the biggest in VAR history, referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR official Darren England worked together to deny Callum Wilson a last-gasp goal at the London Stadium. This decision had a huge impact on the rankings.
A point would have kept West Ham in the relegation zone, but they moved up to level with Tottenham, who were 17th at the time. It would also put part of the title race back into Manchester City’s hands, giving them a chance to level on points with leaders Arsenal and putting goal difference back into the equation that will decide the fate of the Premier League trophy within a fortnight.
The decision caused consternation and debate across the football world in the 24 hours after it was made, but on Monday Night Football Carragher defended the officials who took four minutes and 17 seconds to nullify Wilson’s goal.
Carla: There are a lot of people who don’t want Arsenal to win the league.
Forget the obvious and obvious parts. It took so long because there was so much to see.
I don’t think anyone should complain about the pressure on this decision, what it means, not only for these two clubs but also for Man City and for Tottenham, in a situation like that, how long it took.
Did they make the right decision? yes.
There were two groups of people who thought it wasn’t a foul. People who are associated with Man City or West Ham or who don’t want Arsenal to win the league.
The reason why there is such an uproar is because there are many people who do not want Arsenal to win the league.
What we saw yesterday was what we see every week in the Premier League. This all started a couple of years ago with Arsenal putting 15 men in a six-yard box.
Like it or not, this is a football club that wants to push the limits and dominate in every area.
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Paul Merson speaks on the result of the Premier League match between West Ham and Arsenal
The manager stands on the touchline and chases out the opposition’s left winger or right back. Every time someone blows on him, Gabriel collapses.
And even set pieces. That’s why it feels like they do this every week, so how do they get around it?
But that doesn’t mean it’s not a foul. That’s a foul.
Is there a reserve in the box? Do you have a pull jersey? yes. Of course there is. There, Leandro Trossard puts his arm around Pablo and it is he who ends up fouling the goalkeeper.
But I’ve been in that situation. Is a penalty enough? For me, it’s not.
Declan Rice ends up wrapping his arms around Mavropanos. It doesn’t look good, but will there be penalties against me for that? I doubt they will.
You can argue why this is a foul against the goalie, like it or not, and you can argue about the tug on (Raya’s) shirt, but the big difference is what happens next.
Pablo was grabbed by Trossard, but it wasn’t his arm, it was his grip. It’s a holding. If it was flapping in the air, you probably wouldn’t think it was a foul.
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Gary Neville reacts to the dramatic VAR decision that prevented West Ham’s late equalizer against Arsenal, saying it could be the biggest VAR moment in Premier League history
But you can’t stop him from raising his hand to grab the goalie’s arm. That can’t happen.
Today people are shouting on social media – everywhere – ‘Arsenal everywhere get away with this’. I’m afraid not.
I look at these situations and think why people are frustrated because Arsenal are pushing the boundaries.
If you look back at the opening weekend against Man United, it became very difficult for Saliba, the winner, to fall back to Altindir. You can stop the still image and say look where his arm is. But when it lasts, he doesn’t really stop him.
There was also the time we beat Aston Villa 4-1 in December. Gabriel had returned to being a goalkeeper. Did he get elbowed? Maybe he got him, but the goalie still has to do better.
The same thing happened on Sunday in Leicester three years ago. Leicester’s Ben White was holding the goalkeeper’s gloves. He then hooks and prevents his right arm from rising. Arsenal won the ball back and Leandro Trossard pushed in, but the goal was disallowed.
So the idea is that they’re getting away with it, but they’re not.
They push the boundaries as far as they can, they’re the best at set pieces, and when they do what happens there, they’re elevated up there.
They have kept a clean sheet since losing to Manchester City. We have consistently said that attacking players won’t win the league, goalkeepers, two centre-backs and Declan Rice will. The only goals they have conceded in the past five games have been penalties.
