Peter Schmeichel has slammed the VAR decision to disallow West Ham’s late equaliser against Arsenal, insisting the Gunners would never be top of the Premier League if their set-piece tactics were consistently penalised as fouls.
Peter Schmeichel has slammed the decision to chalk off a late goal in Arsenal’s slender win over West Ham for a foul on David Raya, pointing out that the Gunners have used identical set-piece tactics throughout the entire campaign.
Leandro Trossard found the net in the 83rd minute at the London Stadium to give Arsenal a vital edge in their chase for the Premier League crown. Drama then ensued when Callum Wilson seemed to grab a 95th-minute leveller for the Hammers, who are desperately fighting to stay up.
West Ham’s jubilation was quickly dampened as VAR examined footage of the incident before suggesting an on-field review. Pablo was caught holding Raya’s arm as he jumped for the ball, with referee Chris Kavanagh eventually disallowing the goal.
Nevertheless, Schmeichel, the legendary former Manchester United goalkeeper who also turned out for Manchester City, maintained that Arsenal – the Premier League’s most dangerous team from set-pieces – would be nowhere close to the top of the table if such conduct is deemed a foul.
“That decision today, it’s just so wrong on so many levels,” the Dane told Viaplay. “What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick.
“That’s how they’ve scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kind of things, and then we get to this point… it takes VAR five minutes.
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“Darren England the VAR official, (it takes him) five minutes. He starts the replay over and over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick, it cannot.”
Schmeichel continued: “I think it’s so wrong, I just don’t understand why all of a sudden that’s a free kick, because it’s not been for any teams all the way throughout the season.
“All of this, it’s just crazy, and that decision today is just so wrong on so many levels.”
Schmeichel wasn’t alone in questioning VAR’s involvement, with West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen voicing similar concerns in his post-match comments.
Mikel Arteta, though, praised the match officials for their bravery in making such a crucial decision. He said: “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. And 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.”