Mark Clattenburg has exclusively told Arsenal Insider that VAR was right to disallow West Ham’s equalising goal in stoppage time.
Arsenal defeated West Ham 1-0 at the London Stadium to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Was this the most nerve-racking moment you’ve ever experienced as an Arsenal fan? If not, what was? 😬
Mark Clattenburg has had his say on that disallowed goal…
However, VAR was given its biggest moment since its introduction as it disallowed Callum Wilson’s 95th-minute goal against the Gunners.
The referee Chris Kavanagh was sent ot screen to review the foul on David Raya, and he decided to award the free-kick to Mikel Arteta’s team.
Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg says VAR right to overturn West Ham’s goal vs Arsenal
Mark Clattenburg believes that VAR was right to overturn West Ham’s goal against Arsenal following Pablo’s foul on Raya.
The former Premier League official says it was clear that Pablo prevented Raya from catching the ball, and a foul was the fair outcome.
Speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider, Clattenburg said: “It was clear that Pablo had his arm across the Arsenal goalkeeper after the corner had been taken.
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“It was a huge call in the Premier League season, and the VAR was correct to recommend a review.
“The arm of the West Ham player stopped the goalkeeper from challenging for the ball, and it was simply a foul. However hard it was for West Ham, it was the correct decision.”
VAR will never have been under quite the same pressure as it was during the final stages of the game at the London Stadium.
But it seems as though the right outcome was reached, and Arsenal will be so relieved to have come away from East London with all three points.
The North London club now need to overcome Burnley at home and go away to Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace to win their first title in 22 years.
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