Biggest VAR call ever? Four chaotic minutes that may define the season

Breaking news from the world of sport: Biggest VAR call ever? Four chaotic minutes that may define the season Figure caption, West Ham have injury-time goal disallowed as Arsenal go five clearByPhil McNulty Chief football writerPublished8 minutes agoThe most consequential decision in the history of the video assistant referee in the Premier League was played out over four minutes and 11 seconds of nerve-shredding drama inside London Stadium. That time span, which felt like an age, became the moment that has the capacity to alter the immediate course of history for Arsenal and West Ham United.

In the wider context, it is the incident and VAR decision that might be seen as the season-defining moment at both ends of the table. Arsenal were leading 1-0 deep into stoppage time through Leandro Trossard's 83rd-minute goal when West Ham substitute Callum Wilson hammered home a finish in a packed penalty box following a corner. West Ham celebrated, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta turned away with his head in his hands fearing a vital win had slipped through their fingers with only seconds left - then the protests began.

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Has there ever been such drama involving VAR? Have there ever been such consequences riding on a decision in the Premier League? And the fact it came so late in a tense, high-stakes game made the wait near unbearable for those with a vested interest.

Arsenal insisted goalkeeper David Raya had been fouled by Pablo, with his West Ham opposite number Mads Hermansen flying across in front of him in a blur as a sign of the home side's desperate plight, leaving VAR Darren England to pore over the most significant domestic VAR decision since its inception in 2019 before sending referee Chris Kavanagh to the screen. VAR decisions have been important before – but none have been quite so heavy, with the consequences potentially giving Arsenal a decisive push towards their first Premier League title in 22 years while at the same time sending West Ham towards the Championship. When Wilson's shot crossed the line, West Ham's fans exploded in delirium and then everyone held their breath before Arsenal's followers, packed into a corner of the stadium, reacted in similar fashion when the referee announced: "After review, West Ham number 19 committed a foul on the goalkeeper.

"And with those few fateful words, Arsenal now hold a position of huge strength five points ahead of Manchester City having played a game more, while West Ham look increasingly doomed, sitting a point behind Tottenham Hotspur, who play their game in hand at home to Leeds United on Monday. West Ham and their fans melted into a mutinous fury that continued long after the final whistle, feeling they had been robbed of a vital point in their fight for survival while Arsenal celebrated a victory of huge importance. While weighing up whether to instruct Kavanagh to take a trip to the sidelines, England also looked at potential fouls by Trossard on Pablo and Declan Rice on Crysencio Summerville.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.