Arsenal's moment in 'theatre of the surreal' as time - and the title race - stood still

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsPL Title Race Arsenal and West Ham players await the VAR review Alex Pantling/Getty Images Share articleAll of a sudden, it was theatre of the surreal. For the thousands within the London Stadium watching on with skin in the game, time slowed, heads spun, emotions stretched. Is it a goal? Is it not a goal? Is it redemption? Is it doom? Is it humanly possible to survive an ordeal of not knowing something so important for an endless suspension of reality? For an age, the video assistant referees held everyone’s fate in hands that engineered all the angles and replays of an almighty 22-man stoppage time melee. For the swathes of claret and blue, West Ham United’s Premier League existence was in limbo. In the red and white corner, Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a title was placed on pause. The fans in the stands, whatever their colours and creed, could only wait and pray to the football gods for their own salvation, which would at once condemn their opponent. How extreme these feelings are. This contrasting, yet entwined, anguish had both West Ham and Arsenal hearts thumping unbearably… Until referee Chris Kavanagh drew the international sign for VAR with his fingers and got on the mic to announce the decision: No goal. For Mikel Arteta, the significance of the moment was remarkable for two reasons. The most important one was that it leaves his team one giant leap closer to the Premier League prize they crave. But the other one is quite wild as well. For the first time, he sort of put himself in the shoes of the officials. “Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is,” he said. “Because you’re talking about a moment, in the most chaotic circumstances, that can decide the history, the course of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge. “When I have to be critical, I have been. And today I have to praise them. So congratulations because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.” For all the frenetic drama, all the layers of storyline and contention, it is important not to lose sight of the simplicity of the situation Arsenal faced at West Ham. They just had to clear this hurdle, the biggest and thorniest obstacle in their path, once it became clear they were in a five-game title shootout against Manchester City. Occasions such as these often rely on what Arteta calls “magic moments”. Even before the crazed finale, as Pablo’s arm caught David Raya’s throat and impeded a goalkeeper who is an expert at claiming crosses in a busy area, there were two other events that Arsenal will reflect upon as defining. At half-time, Arteta told his players they would “go for it” but it was easier said than done. With time ticking away, he sent on a cluster of attacking players to try to win the game. At which point, West Ham might have won it themselves. An excellent move ended with Raya exposed to a one-on-one. He somehow found a moment of zen calm, held his ground, waited, and was able to produce a stunning save. Arsenal plugged away, desperate to get themselves in front, and the next vital moment came courtesy of Leandro Trossard, who took advantage of Martin Odegaard’s determination to make a creative difference. The Norwegian was on as a substitute, and exchanged passes with Declan Rice before picking out Trossard. Goals have been elusive lately, but he crowned a display full of initiative with the all-important finish. It took a nick on the way. Not that he or any of his team-mates cared. The result was the be-all and end-all from this particular game, which became more complicated after Ben White went off injured during the first half and Arteta confused the issue of replacing him. He tapped into his inner tinkerman and ended up using three players at right-back (including Rice), three players passing the parcel of two midfield spots, and two left-backs, all in the opening 46 minutes. It was discombobulating at this delicate moment of the season. It certainly made for a more complicated assignment, and Arsenal had to be thankful to the protagonists who made the critical difference in the game’s magic moments: Raya, Odegaard, Trossard — and Darren England on VAR. “It’s been a phenomenal week in every sense,” Arteta mused. It is one that leaves his team closer than ever to this title. Five points in front of City (who have a match in hand), with two games to play against favourable opponents — relegated Burnley and a Crystal Palace team that is entitled to be distracted by preparations for their first European final. The television broadcasters brought the Premier League trophy to the London Stadium today but Arsenal did not want to see it so it was kept away from their sights. There is a time and a place, and they are not there yet. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms