‘I’m surprised’: Ex-Prem ref responds as VAR helps Arsenal again with controversial Saka and Timber calls at West Ham

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

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

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

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

But Arsenal knocked the wind out of the east Londoners' sale 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 discussed all the Whistleblower controversies.

Halsey started by analyzing Arsenal's final goal, which ended West Ham's hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Saka scored a corner kick from the right and Gabriel headed the ball well over the crossbar.

But then referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Lukasz Fabianski caught the centre-back in the face in his attempt to knock 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 across and the ball comes across like that, you're going to have contact between players on every occasion. You will be in touch. And it is subjective.

“We have seen penalties in situations like this where a goalkeeper has come out. But there has been a lot more contact than we saw this weekend.”

“Anthony Taylor has given it. He has taken the time to think about it. And he has given it. And VAR is not going to override that because we clearly heard Howard Webb say that we want to be on the pitch in the decision to stay.” those situations, based on a subjective decision.

“So listen, yeah, I mean, if he hadn't given that as punishment, that wouldn't have been given. It looks like it took four or five seconds to decide if he was influenced by Gabriel on the floor, doing his head, his face and players more or less surrounding him.

So, as I said, if it had not been given, it would not have remained given. It would have remained the decision on the field.

“The Arsenal players didn't really claim anything. It all went quiet in the ground. And then suddenly there's a penalty check, God knows what. And then Arsenal scored.”

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

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

'I'm surprised'

However, Timber seemed to have pushed him from behind and therefore Paqueta was unable to clear the ball.

Halsey added: “Well, again, we're talking about inconsistency, right? As for decisions when a goal is scored. Was it a violation? Wasn't it a violation?

“So yeah, listen, for me I think it's a clear free-kick. And I'm surprised the VAR hasn't recommended a review.”

Halsey also addressed Arsenal's first penalty, with Paqueta fouling Saka in the West Ham area after 34 minutes.

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

Nevertheless, the decision stood and 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 players, when they're challenged like that, to just get down right away.”

'You don't have to take another step or two and then go down. Listen, if that hadn't been given, it would have stayed.

“Possibly not given. Because like I said, there was only a small, light contact. But once the referee gave it…

“Listen, I think he just got guessed by the way he went in and Paqueta went over. And he was safe and got a free kick.

“But we can all see that it is not a free kick and he has clearly won the ball. But in real time it may have looked like it was a free kick.”