Referee Michael Oliver granted West Ham a goal on Thursday, despite the ball seemingly heading out for a corner. In another instance, VAR incorrectly flagged Arsenal for offside. During the game, a cross into the box saw Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko fail to clear, leading to Jarrod Bowen passing to Tomas Soucek for a goal. The on-field decision stood, and VAR, headed by Craig Pawson, extensively reviewed it. The challenge was the obstructed camera view due to Bowen’s presence, making it difficult to determine if the ball had crossed the line.
Mark Clattenberg, a former top official, argued that since the on-field call was a goal, evidence had to prove the ball was out. He highlighted the obstructed view as a key factor in the decision. Commentator McCoist, a former Rangers star, found it challenging to reach a conclusion, emphasizing the obscured perspective. Despite conflicting replays, he eventually expressed confidence in the goal’s validity based on an alternate angle. Arsenal players sought clarification from Oliver, who indicated that Bowen obstructed the camera’s line of sight.
Although the Gunners were initially shocked, they regrouped and regained control of the game. Mikel Arteta’s team, however, struggled to create clear chances, and fans voiced displeasure over Oliver’s decision to award the goal. This incident echoed a previous match against Newcastle, where VAR couldn’t definitively rule on the ball going out before Newcastle’s winning goal. After that match, Arteta passionately criticized VAR, yet the FA announced no disciplinary action against him.
