00:01A grey day in East London, but it'll be a red-letter day for the winners, Arsenal so close to
00:08a first Premier League title in 22 years, West Ham floundering amidst waves that are threatening to engulf them and
00:18suck them beneath the surface.
00:25Bubbles sung with great gusto, hope still for West Ham, Arsenal in the box seat as Stecklen Rice, back at
00:35a former club, lofts the kick-off forward.
00:42Trossard, and he's picked out Riccardo Calafiori, deflection takes it up and over for a corner against the Hammers, it's
00:51Rice's kick right to the back post, Trossard going in, not once but twice, up in the air by Mavropanos,
01:00White, Calafiori, Eze, and then a looping deflection for a corner.
01:08Arsenal, on several occasions, very close to opening the scoring.
01:12Again, the quality of the ball, it's Trossard twice, isn't it, off the woodwork, just patiently waiting at the far
01:19post.
01:21Goalkeeper might well have got a hand on the first one, and then Eze keeping the ball alive, Arsenal, first
01:27to every ball, it's Trossard at the far post, acres of space.
01:35And Gabriel met it.
01:38Yeah, the backbone of their team is absolutely fantastic, isn't it, in Saliba and Gabriel's partnership.
01:47Calafiori, and he'll shoot, after a very nice one-two with Jacarese.
01:53Yeah, we spoke about him, the guys in the studio, too, obviously, we're talking about Calafiori before the game, and
01:57again, the link-up play in the forward areas, they're really positive Arsenal.
02:01Jacarese, as Lee pointed out a few times, looking really secure and confident.
02:07Calafiori finds himself in really interesting positions on the pitch, and he's got an eye for a goal.
02:15This is Rice, and it was glance goalwards, and Saliba lunged in, and it's Kestajanos that clears.
02:27Somerville, lovely turn away from Lewis Skelly, nice time with a bit of hope here.
02:32It's a mistake.
02:35Oh!
02:41Orteta incandescent, feeling that that was a foul, nothing given, and this is Wan-Bissaka, and there was Tati Kestajanos
02:49arriving at pace almost horizontally.
02:51Well, it wasn't a foul, I don't care what Arteta's saying,
02:54I think it was a good challenge.
02:57Corner now finally on its way, and that was Matthias Fernandes.
03:02And it was Tadebo who had a chance to swing at it.
03:07Wan-Bissaka.
03:09Some certainly grew in stature as the first half progressed.
03:12Bowen, Castellanos, and then Bowen again.
03:17Decent. We're players in these situations.
03:20That's why you have quality in your team.
03:22Here's Saka.
03:25That was nearly perfectly timed that statement, wasn't it?
03:27If he'd launched that one into the top corner.
03:29There you go, a little ball there onto his left foot.
03:32Just opens the space, opens up for him.
03:36Sarce just drops off at the last minute there.
03:38Just see how he gets that yard and chest up, ball up.
03:42Just past three-quarter distance in a tight old affair.
03:46And it's Rice.
03:48And it nearly came, Corsa-Libre appeals for an offence on the floor.
03:54They're all appealing for handball.
03:57And VAR is going to take a closer look at that as play for the time being continues.
04:02There's a melee in there, isn't there? Bodies all over the place.
04:04I mean, it's...
04:06That's not going to be handball, is it?
04:07That's not going to be given.
04:08He's done everything he can to try and get out of the way of that.
04:16He actually hits Gabriel's hand as well just before it hit Pablo.
04:20I don't think they can moan about that too much.
04:26Jared Bowen.
04:28The winner against Arsenal last season in a damaging defeat for the Gunners.
04:33Juve.
04:34Pablo in the middle.
04:35Pablo trying to get there.
04:39Well, he didn't like going at right-back.
04:42Declan Rice before, but he does a brilliant job as a centre-half here
04:46because he gets in front of Pablo.
04:48Look, he's waiting for the run.
04:50And if he doesn't go with him, Pablo's going to get something on that.
04:53So, great ball in from Juve.
04:55But Declan Rice, well played.
05:02Saka hoists it.
05:04And Leperis heads it.
05:07Wan-Bissaka.
05:09To Devo.
05:11Bowen.
05:15It's calmed behind by Raya.
05:17Yeah, a little bit of momentum there for West Ham down that right-hand side.
05:21Gabriel failing to clear and...
05:24West Ham picking up the pieces.
05:26Then Gerard Bowen always gets an outcome, doesn't he?
05:28He makes something happen.
05:30This is more of a misdirected cross than anything else, but...
05:34Raya has to be alert.
05:38Hermanson likewise with Leicester.
05:42Saliba.
05:44Sochek first on the scene.
05:45Mateus Fernandes continues his run!
05:48And is blocked out by Raya.
05:50That could be one of the biggest saves of the season.
05:53Well, that could be the league championship right there.
05:57It looks like he's in.
05:59He just forces himself in.
06:01It's a great little touch.
06:02When he gets to here, you just lift it any corner.
06:06The keeper does brilliantly well, you have to say.
06:08He's off his line quick and spreads himself.
06:12And it's the right foot, the right boot that keeps Arsenal in this title race.
06:20Odegaard.
06:28It's Trossard!
06:29Arsenal find a way through.
06:32Eight minutes remaining.
06:39And moments after Raya had made a wondrous save at one end, Trossard scores at the other.
06:45And takes Arsenal one giant stride closer to a first title in more than two decades.
06:55To try and create a little bit of space.
06:57He picks the ball up.
06:58He gets himself in the box.
06:59Great ball from Rice.
07:01And now here.
07:01Can I find someone?
07:02And there he is.
07:03Trossard.
07:04Just waiting.
07:05He's waiting.
07:06He doesn't need to go into the space.
07:08He waits for the ball to come to him.
07:10There he is.
07:11Slight deflection.
07:13Bottom corner.
07:14A perfect layup.
07:16The perfect shot.
07:191-0 to the Arsenal.
07:22Avertz actually did very well to get out of the way of his teammates' goal-bound effort.
07:30And we may look back on the last three or four minutes as pivotal in the unfolding story of this
07:38season's title race.
07:39And, indeed, this year's relegation battle.
07:43Yeah, it's the fine margins.
07:47Mavropanos.
07:55He's gone amidst some mystification.
07:58He was looking over to the assistant on the far side for an offside that didn't come.
08:05He just made an offside up in his head, I think.
08:09Not if anybody knows what he's given.
08:17He's going to poke somebody as well.
08:20Wilson, wasn't it?
08:22No, he's going to poke one of the coaching staff, I think.
08:25Oh, he's off.
08:26He's off.
08:28Red card for a member of the West Ham coaching staff.
08:33Socek.
08:39Mateus Fernandes.
08:41Mavropanos down.
08:42Chance for Wilson.
08:45West Ham desperate.
08:47Less than two minutes to play.
08:49Bowen with the corner.
08:51Hermansen challenges.
08:52Raya lost it.
08:53Wilson whacks it towards goal.
08:56And Chris Kavanagh says that is a goal.
08:59It did cross the line.
09:00West Ham have equalized.
09:03In the 95th minute.
09:06Arsenal are aghast.
09:08Full of fury and argument.
09:10For the veteran striker, Callum Wilson has just struck a blow for the Hammers.
09:16And one for Manchester City too.
09:20Well, there's going to be the inevitable inquest.
09:23Because it's a set piece.
09:24There was a lot of physicality in there.
09:26So Tadebo had hold of someone.
09:28Raya's complaining that he had his arm pulled away.
09:31Mikel Arteta's doing the same.
09:32He's probably had someone from the bench watching it already.
09:36Let's have a look as the ball comes in.
09:38Look at Raya there.
09:40Tadebo.
09:40He's got his right arm.
09:42Somebody's got hold of his arm.
09:43I think it's Pablo's got hold of his shirt.
09:45Whether that's enough.
09:47Definitely over the line.
09:49Callum Wilson.
09:50Just look at his arm there.
09:53He's got his arm across him there.
09:54Pablo, isn't he?
09:55Across him and he's holding his left arm.
09:57I mean, you want the goalkeeper to be as strong as he can.
10:00But there is definitely an arm across him.
10:03Whether it's holding his other arm down.
10:06He's been mentioned pulling Pablo.
10:09I mean, there's all sorts going on there.
10:12Rice.
10:12Rice on Mavropanos.
10:15There's also Rice.
10:17They're having a look at Rice on Mavropanos.
10:20So there are three different elements.
10:22The thing is, the first foul is on the goalkeeper.
10:24If you're going to give the foul,
10:26you've got to give the foul on the goalkeeper.
10:30This could be title deciding.
10:33Right here.
10:36This is the lengthiest of VAR reviews.
10:41Here we go.
10:51After review, West Ham at number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper.
10:57Final decision is directly kicked.
11:00There you have it.
11:01The biggest VAR review of the season.
11:04Without a doubt.
11:06There is no doubt.
11:07This.
11:08Is pivotal.
11:10Right straight away said I've been fouled.
11:13The referee didn't see it.
11:14There's so much going on.
11:16Graham's right.
11:17But it's this left arm.
11:19Across the goalkeeper there.
11:21That stops his left arm going up.
11:23That the referee VAR have agreed on eventually.
11:26There's all sorts of things going on after that.
11:29Before that.
11:30Is he impeded?
11:32There's his shirt being pulled.
11:34By Tadebo.
11:35And then the left arm stopping him catching the ball.
11:39Is why the VAR has cancelled this goal.
11:43Whose adroit finish seem to have rescued West Ham.
11:48Now it's towards Pablo.
11:51Madueke scrapes it away.
11:53Do you find Somerville?
11:55Somerville runs into Madueke.
11:57Saliba comes across.
11:59The chicken a possible penalty now on Pablo.
12:04But that VAR review is going to go no further.
12:08And time is pretty much up now.
12:15Last hurrah for West Ham.
12:17Mateus Fernandes.
12:19And the header.
12:20By Mavropanos.
12:22Loops harmlessly wide.
12:26Just listen to him.
12:28There is the whistle.
12:30Greeted overwhelmingly by boos.
12:33But by joy in the hearts of Arsenal's manager, players and fans everywhere.
12:39Because if they win the last two games, they win the league.
12:45Whatever you think of VAR, whether you love it, whether you loathe it, you simply can't ignore it.
12:51And it has stamped its mark right across the conclusion of this oh so tense, oh so tight London derby.
12:58Which ends with Arsenal bigger favourites than ever before to land the title.
13:02And West Ham odds on to go down.
13:05It's finished, Rebecca.
13:06West Ham nil.
13:07Arsenal one.
13:09Hi there.
13:10I'm Rebecca Lowe, studio host of NBC's coverage of the Premier League.
13:13Don't forget to hit subscribe to watch more videos all season long.
13:17And for even more Premier League content from original series to live matches, head over to Peacock.
13:23The Norfolk.
13:23If you don't beåŽŸå› , feel 100% down below.
Comments