Mikel Arteta applauds officials after VAR intervention West Ham’s late goal was disallowed in Arsenal’s Premier League clash, calling the decision brave

Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal F.C., has praised match officials following a controversial decision to disallow a late goal for West Ham United F.C. during their Premier League encounter on Sunday.

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Mikel Arteta lauds referees after controversial call reaction came after referee Chris Kavanagh, assisted by the VAR team, ruled out Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time strike following a review of a suspected foul in the build-up.

Speaking after the match, Arteta described the officials’ handling of the incident as brave and decisive, insisting they were correct to intervene.

“Today I’ve to congratulate them [the officials]. You need a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal manager added that, upon reviewing the footage, the decision appeared justified and consistent with the laws of the game.

“When you see the picture, there is no question that it is a clear foul. They were very brave,” he stated.

Arteta emphasised the importance of consistency in refereeing decisions across matches, noting that such standards are crucial for fairness in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta hails officials after crucial ruling comments come amid ongoing debate in English football over VAR interventions and the consistency of decision-making in high-pressure moments.

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The match itself ended in a tightly contested affair, with both sides pushing for a late winner before the disallowed goal became the defining moment of the encounter.