11 May 2026 09:49:19
A lot of dialogue about the disallowed goal yesterday, it probably was a foul on Raya but there were multiple other fouls on West Ham players that were just ignored. I’m also sure that someone will clip up all the other goals scored this season where similar has happened. The lawmakers and refs need to get a grip of this situation.
Corners and free kicks are more like wrestling matches now, all crowded and blocking off, it’s a joke. Sad for West Ham though I’m not sure 1 point would have done much for them. I really hope we have a better VAR system next year as there’s been way too many controversies this season for anyone’s liking.
11 May 2026 10:47:11
Very true. Not to mention all the goals Arsenal themselves were given for doing this very thing from corners, long throws, and free kicks. Complete joke.
11 May 2026 11:14:43
It was a foul on the keeper. You cant have your arms impeding a goalkeeper's arms when he's trying to come for the ball.
Having said that, as Angel and many have said in the thread below, the inconsistencies would give you whiplash.
PGMOL letting the corner tactics/antics escalate ends up with a Royal Rumble in the box every set piece.
As Ken said, there's multiple fouls happening simultaneously. I only watched it in real time, but I think Neville said, "VAR have said the foul on Raya is first; if it wasnt, they would have gave a foul on Rice for holding."
This is what takes the biscuit. Rice and every other Arsenal player, every single game, defend corners by wrapping both arms around the opposition.
VAR saying, "we would have given it, if it wasnt for the foul on the keeper" is akin to me telling my mate, "yeah I'd give ya a kidney if you needed it, thankfully you dont though." They'd never give that as a penalty in a million years.
In fact, theyre the only team this season to not concede a penalty.
Iv seen the stills from their corners, obviously one against us in the first game comes to mind. But the Joao Pedro one is crazy. He has Rice holding him whilst Raya punches him in the head, getting nowhere near the ball, and nothing.
The culmination for this probably needed to happen in the way it did for a redress of the situation. No one wants to stop the physical side of the game, but I guarantee you next season none of this will be allowed to happen.
11 May 2026 12:16:59
Funny thing is that I've seen multiple still images online etc this morning. In all of them, you can see the arm in Raya's face, which is a foul, yet u can also see Trossard holding the West Ham player, not even looking at the ball, Saliba grabbing as he's falling over, and Rice bear-hugging someone. It's the fact they went through all that and just picked out the one foul.
I heard one commentator say that those weren't fouls because they happen at every corner, so Raya's is the only one that counts? Really? It might well happen, but that doesn't mean they aren't ALL fouls. PGMOL need to sort this crap out and not by banning attackers from the 6 yard box. ??♂️
11 May 2026 12:42:25
Fouls everywhere, should they all negate each other, or, as seems to be the case, it seems to be which one happens first?
Referee should pull all the players together and say that none of it is acceptable and take the corner again.
{Ed025's Note - or how about booking everybody who grapples at set pieces Brad and even sent off where applicable?...that would soon stop it mate..
11 May 2026 16:47:56
It was a foul.
Just annoying that it was Arsenal that benefitted from it, after their shenanigans in the box this season.
11 May 2026 13:55:01
You've nailed it ed. Give a penalty every time there's a foul. U might end up with 5 pens a game for a few weeks but it would soon disappear after that. They need to clamp down as it's embarassing tbh.
{Ed025's Note - yeah Tim they would soon learn mate..
11 May 2026 15:55:16
Ed025 exactly. i'm willing to guess simulation and talking back to the referee offenses have dropped this season.
{Ed025's Note - its not going to change until the powers that be clamp down on it Angel..
11 May 2026 16:10:45
totally agree with that Ed. It is the only way to get it to stop and it has be left squarely on the door of the referees association. They are basically changing the rules of the game by allowing this.
{Ed025's Note - it may sound a little bitter Stan but Arsenal have just won the league on the back of that lark mate, so while the officials do nothing about it other teams will think its fair game...and its not..
11 May 2026 18:19:20
Ed025 I'm with you on that but you know as well as I do they will do it for a few weeks then forget. Then some refs will apply and others won't then you get more inconsistency.
There are fouls from both teams at every corner. But there always has been. Var just highlights it much more now.
I would be in favour if nobody being allowed in the 6 yard box until the ball is kicked but then you just move all the grappling to outside the 6 yard box.
Or limit the amount of players inside the penalty area until a ball is kicked say 4 from each team plus keeper.
{Ed025's Note - its got to be implemented correctly Ken, some of the players are not even looking at the ball and facing the wrong bloody way at times mate, im not saying it would be easy but its like a wrestling bout at times and what with that and simulation the game is going to the dogs imo..
11 May 2026 21:59:24
Totally agree, but the refs won't deal with it.