Arsenal handed huge Premier League boost after 95th-minute VAR drama at West Ham
Two huge saves from the Spaniard, a goal from Trossard, and a West Ham equalizer ruled out in the 95th minute for a foul on the Arsenal goalkeeper handed the Gunners half the Premier League title. Ben White injury concern and the “Zubimendi case.”
Whoever wins this Premier League title won’t do it without drama. Or controversy. Right down to the final minute of the final game. Pep Guardiola’s now-famous “come on you irons” did little to help Manchester City. The chant heard loudest in east London was “Leo, Leo, Leo.” Leo, as in Leandro Trossard. The Arsenal hero whose 82nd-minute strike against West Ham may well have sealed a league title. Arsenal’s first in 22 years. The Belgian deserves just as much credit for Mikel Arteta’s side sitting five points clear of City with two games left, three for the reigning champions, as David Raya... and VAR.
Two spectacular saves from the Spanish goalkeeper, whose case to start for Spain this summer keeps getting stronger, along with a decisive VAR intervention on the final play of the game, gave the north London side one hand on the Premier League trophy. It also leaves Nuno Espírito Santo’s team staring relegation squarely in the face.
Callum Wilson’s goal in the 95th minute briefly put Manchester City back in control of the title race. But a foul on Raya, the kind seen countless times this season and, to the frustration of both the West Ham faithful and City fans alike, rarely called, sparked celebrations once again among the traveling Arsenal supporters while plunging the home crowd into despair. A Tottenham victory tomorrow would leave the Hammers four points from safety. The only negatives for Arsenal were Ben White’s injury and the growing “Zubimendi case.” Something is clearly going on with the midfielder from San Sebastián.
From Hermansen to Raya
For the third straight match, Mikel Arteta named the same starting lineup. That meant Martín Zubimendi would once again begin on the bench. But this time the Basque manager’s plan lasted far less than expected. Less than half an hour. Exactly as long as Ben White could stay healthy. After the English fullback went down injured and limped off the field in tears with assistance from the medical staff, Arteta turned to Zubimendi. A physical setback that could prove devastating for Arsenal ahead of the Champions League final and very “beneficial” for Trent Alexander-Arnold in World Cup terms.
It was immediately after White’s injury that Arsenal lost control of the game. The Gunners, like the evening air at London Stadium, suddenly went cold. And that came after a very strong start. Trossard nearly gave the visitors the lead from a corner kick. He had two headers and couldn’t convert either. The first was denied by Hermansen, the second rattled the crossbar.
Just as Arsenal kept running into Hermansen, Nuno Espírito Santo was left to lament the stunning save David Raya produced to deny the Hammers the opener. On the final play of the first half, the Spanish international, who is set to win the Premier League Golden Glove for a third straight season, flew through the air to stop a header from Taty Castellanos. Yet another reminder of why he should be Spain’s starter at the World Cup.
‘VARsenal’
West Ham’s late push before halftime was no accident. The Hammers stepped forward, while Arsenal took a major step back. Fatigue was clearly setting in for the visitors, even more so after Mosquera replaced Calafiori at halftime, but the substitution that truly raised eyebrows was Zubimendi’s. Brought on in the 28th minute, the former Real Sociedad midfielder was taken off again in the 67th. He lasted fewer than 40 minutes on the pitch at London Stadium.
Even without the Spaniard, but with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz still on the field, Arsenal once again had to rely on David Raya. Minutes after the referee waved away appeals for a handball by West Ham defender Pablo, whose arm the ball struck while he was lying inside the box, the Spanish keeper pulled on the superhero cape again. This time he used his foot to deny Mateus Fernandes in a one-on-one chance.
Then, just when frustration was beginning to set in for Arteta’s players, Trossard borrowed Raya’s cape. “Leo, Leo, Leo,” roared the away end, now completely delirious after the 1-0 goal. Captain Odegaard twisted away from his marker before sliding the ball to the Belgian forward, who beat Hermansen with a right-footed finish. The Norwegian dropped to his knees while the rest of Arsenal’s players, with Arteta sprinting wildly down the touchline, rushed over to celebrate.
But north London still had to suffer a little longer. In the 94th minute, Gabriel stuck out a knee to prevent a West Ham equalizer. Then, in the 95th, Rice threw his chest in front of a volley from Callum Wilson. The problem was that the ball had already crossed the line. West Ham had tied it. Arsenal’s title dream was slipping away yet again.
Then VAR stepped in
After a lengthy review for a foul by Pablo on Raya, the referee called a grab on the Spanish goalkeeper’s arm. The 1-1 equalizer was disallowed. This time, Arsenal really had the win. And very nearly the 2025-26 Premier League title as well.
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- 1 Mads Hermansen
- 15 Konstantinos Mavropanos
- 25 Jean-Clair Todibo
- 4 Axel Disasi (84')
- 29 Wan-Bissaka
- 18 Mateus Fernandes
- 28 Tomas Soucek
- 12 El Hadji Malick Diouf
- 11 Valentín Castellanos (66')
- 7 Crysencio Summerville
- 20 Jarrod Bowen
- Substitutes
- 9 Callum Wilson (84')
- 32 Freddie Potts
- 55 Mohamadou Kanté
- 23 Areola
- 3 Max Kilman
- 2 Kyle Walker-Peters
- 30 Ollie Scarles
- 27 Soungoutou Magassa
- 19 Pablo (66')
- 1 David Raya
- 4 Ben White (27')
- 6 Gabriel
- 2 William Saliba
- 33 Riccardo Calafiori (45')
- 19 Trossard
- 10 Eberechi Eze (66')
- 41 Declan Rice
- 49 Myles Lewis-Skelly
- 7 Bukayo Saka (79')
- 14 Viktor Gyokeres
- Substitutes
- 8 Odegaard (66')
- 3 Cristhian Ibarguen (45')
- 13 Arrizabalaga
- 11 Martinelli
- 36 Martín Zubimendi (66')
- 5 Piero Hincapie Reyna
- 56 Max Dowman
- 20 Nonso Madueke (79')
- 29 Kai Havertz (66')
Substitutions
Martín Zubimendi (27', Ben White), Cristhian Mosquera (45', Riccardo Calafiori), Pablo (66', Valentín Castellanos), Martin Ødegaard (66', Eberechi Eze), Kai Havertz (66', Martín Zubimendi), Noni Madueke (79', Bukayo Saka), Callum Wilson (84', Axel Disasi)
Goals
0-1, 82': Trossard
Cards
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR Referee: Darren England, Akil Howson
Valentín Castellanos (33',Yellow), Crysencio Summerville (37',Yellow), Jean-Clair Todibo (67',Yellow), Bukayo Saka (76',Yellow), Cristhian Ibarguen (78',Yellow), William Saliba (88',Yellow), Trossard (90',Yellow)
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