‘I’m surprised’: Ex-Prem referee responds as VAR helps Arsenal again

ARSENAL's victory over West Ham was comprehensive, but it wasn't without controversy following some questionable VAR calls.

The Gunners won 5-2 after an entertaining Premier League encounter against the Hammers on Saturday at the London Stadium.

The London rivals played out a seven-goal thriller in the first half that  saw the visitors lead 4-0 by the 36th minute with goals by Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.

However, West Ham got back in the game with two goals within two minutes thanks to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri.

But Arsenal knocked the wind out of the East Londoners' sales in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a controversial penalty that Gabriel earned and Bukayo Saka scored.

Former Premier League referee and SunSport columnist Mark Halsey addressed all the controversy on Whistleblower.

Halsey started by analysing Arsenal's final goal that ended West Ham's hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Saka whipped in a corner-kick from the right and Gabriel got the header that sent the ball way over the crossbar.

But then referee Anthony Taylor deemed Lukasz Fabianski caught the centre-back in the face in his attempt to punch the ball away.

Taylor booked Fabianski in front of a shocked crowd and Saka scored from the penalty spot.

Halsey told SunSport's Will Pugh: "I think when the cross comes over and the ball comes over like that, you're going to have contact between players at every occasion. You're going to have contact. And it's subjective.

"We have seen penalties given in those sort of situations where a keeper has come out. But there's been a lot more contact than we saw at the weekend.

"Anthony Taylor's given it. He's taken some time to think about it. And he's given it. And VAR are not going to overrule that, because obviously we've heard Howard Webb say that we want to stick with the on-field decision on those situations, on a subjective decision.

"So, listen, yeah, I mean, had he not given that as a penalty, that would have stayed not given. It does seem that it did take four or five seconds to give the decision whether he was influenced by Gabriel on the floor, holding his head, his face and players sort of surrounding him.

"So, as I said, had it not been given, it would have stayed not given. It would have stayed with the on-field decision.

"Arsenal players weren't really claiming for anything. It all went quiet in the ground. And then all of a sudden, there's a penalty check for God knows what. And then Arsenal scored."

Halsey, though, was categorically against the way the referee and VAR handled Arsenal's opener that saw Saka's corner-kick from the right finding Gabriel who beat Fabianski with a clinical header.

Jurrien Timber appeared to have fouled Lucas Paqueta, who covered the near post and could have easily headed the cross away.

'I'm surprised'

However, Timber seemed to have pushed him from behind and that didn't allow Paqueta to clear the ball.

Halsey added: "Well, again, we're talking about inconsistency, aren't we? Regarding decisions when a goal is scored. Was it a foul? Was it not a foul?

"So, yeah, listen, for me, I think it's a clear free-kick. And I'm surprised that VAR didn't recommend a review."

Halsey also addressed Arsenal's first penalty that saw Paqueta fouling Saka inside the West Ham area on 34 minutes.

It seemed like there was very little contact and the England international didn't go down immediately.

Nevertheless, the decision stood and the North Londoners' captain Odegaard converted from the spot to make it 3-0.

Halsey said: "When he sticks his leg out like that, you run the risk. And I just want to see players, when they are challenged like that, just go down straight away.

"Don't need to take one or two more steps, then go down. Listen, had that not been given, it would have stayed.

"Possibly not given. Because as I say, there was just slight, slight contact. But once the referee has given it...

"Listen, I think he's just guessed as in the way he's gone in and Paqueta's gone over. And he's been safe and given a free-kick.

"But we can all see that it's not a free-kick and he has clearly won the ball. But in real time, it possibly looked like it's a free-kick."