Following West Ham United’s highly disputed defeat to Arsenal, captain Jarrod Bowen led the protests against the officials, while Tomas Soucek and Callum Wilson demanded explanations. An irate Mads Hermansen repeatedly shook his finger and had to be guided away. Hermansen chased referee Chris Kavanagh and assistants Dan Cook and Ian Hussin toward the tunnel, but the goalkeeper eventually stopped as his appeals went unanswered. The trio were met with loud boos from the London Stadium crowd as they left the pitch. The deep sense of injustice stemmed from the decision to disallow Wilson’s 95th-minute equalizer.
West Ham players protested after the defeat to Arsenal. (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
The goal was reviewed by VAR, and Pablo was deemed to have obstructed Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya with his left arm during the buildup. Kavanagh was instructed to consult the TV monitor. As he examined multiple slow-motion replays, both West Ham’s Premier League survival and Arsenal’s title ambitions hung in the balance. This may explain the lengthy VAR check, but ultimately the disallowed goal could cost the club its top-flight status.
“If you ask any goalkeeper in the league whether he has been illegally blocked, pulled, or pushed on corners this season, you won’t find anyone who has not experienced that,” Hermansen told The Athletic after the match. “So, to call it today, I’m not sure I understand why. The referee didn’t explain the decision when I approached him. We watched it later and saw there are short pulls on (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, (Tomas) Soucek, and Pablo before the goal. You can award a foul on the goalkeeper, fine. But given what has been allowed this season—goals scored after illegal blocks, pulls, and pushes on goalkeepers—I don’t understand why it’s given today. It’s been lawless in many situations, and that’s why I don’t understand why it’s called in this instance. I spoke with David (Raya) after the game, and I think we share the same experience this season. He has every right to ask for a free kick or a foul, but you can find many situations this season where it went the other way.”
David Raya was judged to have been fouled before the goal. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Bowen also questioned the decision. “When you look at the screen for five minutes, you’ll find something—a lot of grappling and holding,” he told BBC Sport. “I’m sure if you look long enough, you’ll find something. Do I think it’s the right decision? No. Where’s the consistency? As a fan, you don’t want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes for it to be taken away.”
The 1-0 defeat leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have a game in hand. West Ham host Leeds United on Monday evening, with the possibility of the gap extending to four points. Their remaining matches are away to Newcastle United and at home to Leeds. Tottenham face Chelsea away and Everton at home.
“It’s going to be tough,” said Nuno when asked by BBC Match of the Day if the club can avoid relegation. “It’s not in our hands, but we will keep fighting.”
Those words will resonate in the coming days, but until Leandro Trossard’s winner, West Ham played with passion, commitment, and desire.
