“Arteta praises the courage of the referees after Arsenal’s controversial victory.”

On an electrifying Sunday that will go down in the history of English football, Mikel Arteta issued a heartfelt tribute to the fearless courage of the referees involved in the decision that sealed Arsenal’s victory over West Ham, in a match that left the football world in turmoil. The Gunners’ manager highlighted the boldness of referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR officials in disallowing, in the dying seconds, Callum Wilson’s goal that could have equalized the match.

The controversial episode occurred during stoppage time, when Wilson capitalized on a mistake by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to fire the ball into the back of the net. However, after a video review, Kavanagh decided to disallow the goal, citing a clear foul by Pablo on Raya. The decision sparked outrage among West Ham players and fans, but Arteta did not hesitate to praise the integrity and bravery of the officiating team.

“Today I have to congratulate them. They showed a lot of courage and bravery by standing out and giving the referee the opportunity to review the play on the monitor by the side of the field,” Arteta stated. “When you see the image, there is no doubt it was a clear foul. They were very brave. The action deserved that.” The coach emphasized the need for consistency in decisions, reinforcing the enormous responsibility that weighs on referees: “For them to be in that position and make that call, which can change the fate of a team, is a huge responsibility. What a massive decision!”

With this controversial victory, Arsenal has taken significant steps towards their first Premier League title in 22 years. With a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who still have a game in hand, the Gunners could be crowned champions if they win against Burnley at home on May 18 and against Crystal Palace away on the 24th of the same month.

Arteta described the match as a true emotional rollercoaster: “I will certainly remember this day. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. We knew it would be a difficult day; West Ham is fighting for survival, and we are trying to win the Premier League.” The coach also revealed that Ben White’s injury forced tactical changes, but the team showed resilience and courage to triumph: “We started very well, had three great chances, then after the injury we had to adapt and make tough decisions. We left everything on the pitch and were rewarded for our courage.”

In addition to the collective effort, Arteta highlighted the decisive contributions of David Raya and Martin Odegaard. Raya shone with a spectacular save with his feet, denying a goal to Mateus Fernandes while the score was still 0-0. Odegaard, who had been used sparingly in recent weeks, came off the bench to assist Trossard in the play that secured the victory.

“If you want to win big trophies, you need moments and players capable of creating magic. David Raya and Martin Odegaard did that today,” emphasized Arteta, who also led Arsenal to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, set for May 30. “Martin made an incredible play to secure our victory, right after David’s save. This is the beauty of the Premier League.”

Asked about the proximity of the title, the coach did not hide his pride in his team: “Now we are going to take advantage of what we did today, because this week has been incredible. The players, the way they embrace this opportunity and show resilience, is remarkable.” With this dramatic victory, Arsenal is closer than ever to ending two decades of waiting and lifting the trophy that crowns the English champion.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.