Arsenal are on the verge of winning their first Premier League title in over two decades after Mikel Arteta’s side overcame a huge test against West Ham and have VAR to thank
The Premier League title is within reach of Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s side overcame the biggest remaining test of the season against relegation-threatened West Ham.
Leandro Trossard may well have written himself into the Arsenal history books as his 83rd minute goal has left the Gunners five points clear of Manchester City with just the challenge of already-relegated Burnley and Conference League finalists Crystal Palace standing between the Gunners and the title.
One of the most intense title races in years could have been decided by VAR after a last-gasp West Ham equaliser was disallowed following an on-field review after Hammers striker Pedro fouled David Raya in the build-up. Arguably the biggest VAR decision in Premier League history could also condemn West Ham to relegation.
Off the back of booking their Champions League final spot against Atletico Madrid and a convincing 3-0 win over Fulham last time out in the league, Arteta named an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive game. The last time he did so was two years ago.
Arteta is clearly happy with the balance of his side with Myles Lewis-Skelly again preferred in midfield to Martin Zubimendi. Before the 19-year-old’s reintroduction into the midfield, Arsenal had won just once in five games and scored four goals across those fixtures.
The Fulham win was as resounding as it could have been against a Cottagers side who had not conceded in their two previous games. And those three points put them two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table when Pep Guardiola’s side could only draw at Everton in response.
That turn to a more front-footed approach continued against the relegation-threatened Irons and should have produced the first goal just minutes in when Leandro Trossard played through Riccardo Calafiori, but the left back had no right foot and allowed Konstantinos Mavropanos to recover and block his effort.
Just moments later, Trossard forced a brilliant save from Mads Hermansen heading at the near post unmarked from the resulting corner. The ensuing pinball saw the Belgian hit the woodwork as the Gunners were inches away from making an early breakthrough.
Arsenal started well but their momentum was halted and Arteta’s plans were turned on their head when Ben White was forced off injured midway through the first half. The England international’s World Cup involvement could be in doubt after he limped off in agony with an apparent knee problem.
His withdrawal saw Martin Zubimendi called upon much earlier than usual. The midfielder was introduced instead of recognised defender Cristian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie – seeing Arteta move Declan Rice out of the centre of midfield and into right back.
Gary Neville on commentary was left baffled by the Spaniard’s call, saying: “I’m stunned, actually. Taking him out of the middle of the pitch is a big call.”
After losing control of the game as West Ham grew into the first-half, Arteta moved to rectify his earlier call by hooking Riccardo Calafiori for Mosquera and shuffling the pack. The Spaniard came on at right-back with Rice moving back into midfield while Lewis-Skelly dropped to left-back.
The change worked as Arsenal dictated the second half as West Ham dropped back. However, the slow, methodical approach saw the hosts easily find their shape and not get dragged out into areas that Arsenal could exploit.
Arteta again was forced to backtrack and change his inital change to bring on Zubimendi when he subjected the £51million signing to the ultimate humiliation on the 66 minutes mark – substituting the substitute for Martin Odegaard. Kai Havertz also replaced Eberechi Eze.
But West Ham never went away and the chance of the game came with just over 10 minutes to go fell to Mateus Fernandes. The highly coveted midfielder broke clear one-on-one with David Raya but Arsenal’s stopper produced a huge last-ditch save to deny the Hammers from going ahead and keep the title race alive.
Raya’s brilliance was rewarded minutes later when Trossard scored his first goal in 2026 to move the Gunners on the verge of the title. Odegaard teed up the Belgian whose effort from 12 yards was deflected past Hermansen – sparking pandemonium in the away end.
West Ham thought they had snatched a massive point in the fifth minute of added time when Callum Wilson smashed a half volley over the line. But VAR called an on-field review with Pedro’s impeding of Raya when the Spaniard attempted to claim the corner.
Arsenal got over the line by the closest of margins. It could be the biggest call by VAR in Premier League history – for Arsenal West Ham, Manchester City and Tottenham.