Mikel Arteta praised the courage of match officials after Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 win over West Ham, a result that moved the Gunners closer to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Mikel Arteta praised the courage and bravery shown by the match officials after Arsenal secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over West Ham United in a controversial Premier League clash on Sunday.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Callum Wilson thought he had rescued a point for West Ham after capitalising on a mistake from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. However, referee Chris Kavanagh ruled the goal out after consulting the pitch-side monitor following advice from VAR officials.
The officials judged that West Ham defender Pablo had fouled Raya in the buildup to the goal, a decision that sparked furious reactions from the home side and their supporters at the London Stadium.
Despite the controversy, Arteta strongly defended the decision and applauded the refereeing team for taking responsibility in such a high-pressure moment.
“Today I have to congratulate them,” Arteta said after the match. “They showed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action. When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul.”
West Ham are set to contact referees’ body PGMOL after their late equaliser against Arsenal was disallowed.
The club will raise concerns and request further explanation over the controversial decision.
BBC Sport understands West Ham will also ask for the audio between referee… pic.twitter.com/czj4fG0g2C
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 11, 2026
The Arsenal manager also acknowledged the immense pressure officials face in crucial moments that can completely alter the course of a title race or relegation battle. He stressed that consistency and accountability remain essential in the modern game. The win leaves Arsenal in a commanding position in the Premier League title race, sitting five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. The Gunners are now just two victories away from clinching their first league title in 22 years.
Arteta also praised key contributions from Raya and captain Martin Ødegaard, whose creativity helped produce the winning goal scored by Leandro Trossard. The Spaniard described those decisive moments as the difference between winning trophies and falling short.
Arsenal’s victory capped off what Arteta called an “incredible week” for the club, with the Gunners also preparing for a UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain later this month.
