Biggest VAR call ever? Four chaotic minutes that may define the season

And with those few fateful words, Arsenal now hold a position of huge strength five points ahead of Manchester City having played a game more, while West Ham look increasingly doomed, sitting a point behind Tottenham Hotspur, who play their game in hand at home to Leeds United on Monday.

West Ham and their fans melted into a mutinous fury that continued long after the final whistle, feeling they had been robbed of a vital point in their fight for survival while Arsenal celebrated a victory of huge importance.

While weighing up whether to instruct Kavanagh to take a trip to the sidelines, England also looked at potential fouls by Trossard on Pablo and Declan Rice on Crysencio Summerville.

He decided the first foul was Pablo's on Raya, so that was the decision.

This seemed like an incident that has been a long time coming given the regular push-and-pull that now takes place involving so many players inside the penalty box at every corner and set-piece.

How this can be eradicated is almost impossible to work out as it is a situation that is now close to being beyond the control of officials.

Reactions were contrasting everywhere you looked. On the pitch. On the sidelines. In the stands. And then in the aftermath.

Figure caption,

Where's the consistency? - Bowen frustrated by VAR

Arsenal manager Arteta praised how "brave" the officials had been to make the decision – and yes, those of a West Ham persuasion said "well he would say that wouldn't he?"

Arteta added: "Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big a referee's job is. I realised for the referees to be in that position, to make that call and change the course of one of the two teams, what a responsibility. What a big call."

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a massive call but it was clearly the right call. My first instinct was foul but then the time goes by, the referee is waiting for the VAR decision - but when you look at it, the contact affects the way David Raya lifts his hands, the way he catches the ball. It is almost on his throat.

"Massive decision, especially when the two teams are fighting for such big things."

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was desolate, insisting everyone in the game is now confused as to what constituted a foul in the penalty area at set-pieces.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Look I did not see it quite well. I would have to see a replay but I trust a lot of what my players felt. They see it, they are on the pitch and said it was not a foul. We are so sad and we are so disappointed.

"I'm going to see it now and try to understand it better. I am not here to judge the work of the referee or the work of the VAR. It is just the lack of consistency in the last few seasons."

He added: "With the allowance of grappling, blocking, holding, I think we have lost a bit of what is a foul and what isn't a foul. Previously it would be judged differently so that's what upsets me."

Espirito Santo tried to put on a brave face and deliver fighting talk as he is now facing a fight against all odds to keep West Ham out of the Championship.

On such decisions, futures and histories can be made.

'If it takes that long, can it really be clear and obvious?'

Image caption,

There were four minutes 11 seconds from the goal to the referee's announcement

Imagine being in England's position as the VAR in Stockley Park.

The pressure on the official must have been huge. He cannot hear the Sky commentary, he has no idea what public opinion is.

This is the referee who, in September 2023, was responsible for the biggest VAR mistake the Premier League has seen.

It was England who misinterpreted an on-field offside decision, causing a goal for Liverpool's Luis Diaz to be wrongly disallowed at Tottenham.

England had to fight his way back up to top-flight refereeing after that.

Today he was presented with a decision that could decide the fate of two clubs.

You can't blame him for taking his time. He had to get this right.

England spent two minutes 41 seconds poring over every angle of the footage, checking the possible foul, the potential penalties.

We have seen pushing, shoving, grabbing and pulling on corners all season. Goalkeepers have been pressuring and harried too.

Is this different? Crucially, it was.

Pablo had his arm across Raya and he was holding on to the goalkeeper's left arm too.

It is hard to argue that the Spain international was not impeded. Without the foul contact by Pablo, Raya would surely have had a simple catch.

England checked the other possible fouls too, by Trossard on Pablo and Rice on Summerville.

Importantly, the first foul that had a direct impact on play was Pablo on Raya. You cannot give a penalty for a foul that may come after this.

England had to get that right - and he did.

Referee Kavanagh spent one minute 15 seconds at the monitor. He too would have known the consequences of his final decision.

In total, four minutes 11 seconds potentially deciding the title and the final relegation place.

If it takes that long, can it really be clear and obvious? That is the wrong way to look at it. With such a huge, season-defining call, take as long as necessary to make sure you are getting it right.

England will have spent the final few minutes of the game wondering if he'd made the right call.

There are no communications inside the VAR room, no mobile phones, no way of gauging if you've done the right thing.

Imagine the relief when he walks out the room and is told he's got it right, that Pablo has impacted Raya from playing the ball.

On Saturday, England will take charge of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea.

That was unthinkable two and a half years ago. Now he's got the landmark game on the football calendar – and he's exorcised his VAR demons.