This could be a turning point victory in Arsenal's journey to conquer the Premier League title this season.
The 1-0 victory over West Ham United was a tense, emotional and typical of the season's final sprint match. The climax appeared in injury time with a controversial situation that overshadowed the entire previous development.
After Leandro Trossard's opening goal in the 83rd minute - a shot that changed direction and made West Ham's defense helpless - Arsenal seemed to have lost the victory in the final minutes. Callum Wilson unleashed a left-footed shot that sent the ball over the goal line before Declan Rice could clear it.
However, after a long period of VAR testing, the refereeing team including Darren England and Chris Kavanagh decided not to recognize the goal because they determined that player Pablo fouled goalkeeper David Raya in a dispute situation.
That decision could become one of the historic moments of VAR in the Premier League, considering its direct impact on both the championship race and the relegation battle.
The contrast between Arsenal's overwhelming joy and West Ham's disappointment creates a special atmosphere in London. Arsenal is approaching their first Premier League title since 2004, while West Ham continues to sink deeper into relegation pressure when the season is only two rounds away.
It was a great moment, a great afternoon and also a great week for us. The whole team showed incredible desire, bravery and fighting spirit at a time when everything was decisive" - coach Mikel Arteta said after the match.
Arsenal did not have a perfect performance. The away team encountered many difficulties after Ben White had to leave the field in the first half due to injury, significantly affecting the tactical structure.
At a time when the score was still 0-0, Mateus Fernandes once had a chance to face Raya but could not beat the Spanish goalkeeper.
That was one of the decisive moments of the match. That save was really excellent" - Arteta added.
Raya's save, Trossard's diversion shot, and contrasting emotions after Wilson's VAR disallowed the goal could completely become iconic moments if Arsenal completed their championship journey.
Notably, just 10 days after Arteta complained about the time VAR reviewed the situation in the match against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish strategist this time benefited from it. According to British media, the VAR team reviewed Wilson's goal situation 17 times before making the final decision.
Perhaps today I really understand how difficult the referee's job is. This is a moment that can decide the history and fate of the two big clubs. The pressure is extremely great," said the Arsenal captain.
Although the final decision was considered reasonable, VAR taking too much time to determine caused fierce controversy. The issue of disputes with goalkeepers in set pieces continues to be a topic of much debate in the Premier League.
West Ham coach Nuno Espirito Santo also could not hide his disappointment: "We all no longer understand what is fouling and what is not. Even the referees seem to be confused.
Arsenal entered the game excitedly but were constantly denied goals due to the resilience of West Ham's defense, post and even inaccurate finishes. After White left the field in the 28th minute, Arteta decided to put Martin Zubimendi on the field instead of defender Cristhian Mosquera, and at the same time pulled Rice down to play right-back. This adjustment clearly affected Arsenal's ability to control the midfield.
At the beginning of the second half, Riccardo Calafiori continued to be injured and forced to leave the field. Mosquera was brought in to replace him, while Myles Lewis-Skelly was pulled back to play left-back. While the "Gunners" were having difficulty, Arteta continued to make a series of changes by taking Zubimendi off the field to bring in Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and then Noni Madueke.
It was Odegaard who made the difference with a pass that opened up space for Trossard to score his first Premier League goal since December last year, ending the 25-match goalless streak of the Belgian striker. This victory helped Arsenal continue to lead with a 5-point gap ahead of Manchester City, despite having played one more match. If they win the last two rounds against Burnley and Crystal Palace, the "Gunners" will officially win the championship.
History is very close to Arsenal. And if they complete their mission, the victory in London will definitely become one of the most memorable milestones of the season.
