West Ham 0-1 Arsenal: How the pundits, pros and referees reacted to David Raya VAR controversy

The VAR determination that decided the Premier League title?

Perhaps a small hyperbolic - Arsenal did not triumph each of their unparalleled 79 points acknowledgment to nerve-jangling pitchside reviews - but determination is nary downplaying the value of Chris Kavanagh and Darren England's gargantuan determination astatine the London Stadium connected Sunday.

David Raya was not convinced for a 2nd that the Gunners had conscionable fto 2 points gaffe against West Ham United. The Golden Glove victor was alternatively convinced that helium had been illegally impeded by idiosyncratic successful claret - successful the end, some Pablo and Jean-Clair Todibo - earlier Callum Wilson's last-gasp onslaught crossed the enactment and deed Declan Rice successful the midriff.

Raya was right, but lone aft a lengthy VAR cheque that erstwhile again stretched the meaning of 'clear and obvious', particularly successful the eyes of disgruntled rival supporters.

Those successful reddish and achromatic did not springiness a moment's attraction to the naysayers, arsenic they celebrated moving 5 points wide astatine the apical of the Premier League table, and galore who person lived and breathed the crippled astatine the highest level were connected their side.

Here, Sports Mole has picked retired immoderate of the astir notable reactions to the latest dose of VAR drama.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager: "I person to congratulate the officials"

"When I had to beryllium critical, I person been," Arteta said astatine his post-game property conference. "Today I person to congratulate them [VAR]. You needed a batch of courageousness and bravery to basal retired and springiness the accidental to the referee to person a look astatine the action.

"The enactment deserved that. In my opinion, it is precise clear. They are the rules and we inquire for consistency. When you spot the picture, determination is nary question that it is simply a wide foul. They were precise brave."

Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham manager: "The referees don't cognize anymore"

"Due to the caller seasons, it has been happening [similar incidents]. Even the referees don't cognize what is simply a foul and what is not a foul, it creates doubt," Santo told Sky Sports News.

Leandro Trossard, Arsenal attacker: "A batch of religion successful David Raya"

"Raya said consecutive distant it can't beryllium a goal. At that moment, I had a batch of faith. I believed due to the fact that helium was beauteous convincing, but you ne'er know," the match-winner told Sky Sports News.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham attacker: "Can you springiness a punishment each time?"

"Goalkeepers are protected much than outfield players and determination is simply a batch of holding wrong the box. Are you going to look astatine those each clip and springiness a penalty? That is the lone mode that is the close mode to bash it," the West Ham skipper told Sky Sports News.

"You can't hitch a goalkeeper retired but the keeper has travel successful to drawback the shot and has to expect contact. It's the Premier League; determination is going to beryllium contact. I conscionable deliberation if you look astatine thing agelong enough, you volition find thing to give.

Gary Neville, Manchester United legend: "The biggest VAR infinitesimal successful Premier League history"

"It is astir apt the biggest infinitesimal successful VAR past successful the Premier League. This is massive," Neville said connected commentary for Sky Sports.

"I deliberation it's a foul. His limb is held connected Raya. It's connected him each the time. He's holding crossed his cervix and chest. I deliberation it's a foul."

Roy Keane, Man United legend: "Really silly from West Ham"

"The 1 happening you accidental erstwhile you spell up, VAR are going to cheque everything, bash not enactment your hands connected the goalkeeper! Certainly don't permission it connected for 3 oregon 4 seconds," Keane said connected Sky Sports.

"There is each sorts going connected but due to the fact that the goalkeeper had specified a large portion to play, I deliberation it is simply a foul. It was truly silly from West Ham. Don't marque it specified an evident foul due to the fact that they are going to check."

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend: "An casual 1 to give"

"I'm not a instrumentality of VAR but successful this lawsuit it did the job. For maine it was an casual 1 to springiness successful specified a tense moment," Arsenal's erstwhile apical scorer said connected Sky.

Owen Hargreaves, Man United legend: "David Raya's limb is being pulled"

The extremity is ruled retired for a foul connected David Raya ❌ pic.twitter.com/2rIQaMAffc

"We’ve spoken astir set-pieces each this season, look astatine each the bodies on David Raya! I consciousness atrocious for West Ham but the ‘keeper is having his limb pulled down, helium can’t get up and assertion the ball," Hargreaves said connected Premier League Productions.

Mark Clattenburg, erstwhile Premier League referee: "Clear"

"It was wide that Pablo had his limb crossed the Arsenal goalkeeper aft the country had been taken," Clattenburg told Arsenal Insider.

"It was a immense telephone successful the Premier League season, and the VAR was close to urge a review. The limb of the West Ham subordinate stopped the goalkeeper from challenging for the ball, and it was simply a foul. However hard it was for West Ham, it was the close decision."