Arsenal
VAR, Consistency and the Corner That Divided Opinion After Arsenal v West Ham
Post-match controversy over VAR at Arsenal-West Ham focused on inconsistency, rules and refereeing…
Sunday’s stoppage-time VAR intervention that removed West Ham’s late equaliser at Arsenal produced a rare moment of collective dispute across players, managers and pundits. Mikel Arteta described the on-field incident as a “clear foul” on David Raya and praised the officials for what he called a “brave” decision.
The West Ham camp voiced frustration at perceived inconsistency. “Where’s the consistency?” Jarrow Bowen asked BBC Sport. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo admitted he was “upset” by a “lack of consistency.” Keeper Mads Hermansen offered a detailed critique of how tight penalty-area battles are policed. “If you ask any goalkeeper in the league if he’s been illegally blocked, pulled, pushed on corners this season, you will not find anyone who has not experienced this,” Hermansen fumed to The Athletic. “so, to give it today, I’m not sure I understand why. The referee did not explain why when I went to him. We watched it afterwards and we can see there’s short pulls on [Konstantinos] Mavropanos, Souček and Pablo before the goal.”
Arteta defended the officials: “[It’s] a call from the refs that I think is very brave,” he said. “Today I have to praise them, at least for giving the option to a referee to decide. Away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call. And when you look at the action in that way, I think it is an obvious error. It is a free kick and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.”
Broadcast reaction was largely aligned on the foul being on Raya. “The one thing you say when you go up, VAR are going to check everything, do not put your hands on the goalkeeper!” Roy Keane told Sky Sports. “Certainly don’t leave it on for three or four seconds. There is all sorts going on but because the goalkeeper had such a big part to play, I think it is a foul.” Wayne Rooney called it “a clear foul” on his self-titled podcast. Gary Lineker added caution about earlier grappling: “If I was a West Ham fan—or, indeed, a Manchester City fan—I think I’d be a little bit angry tonight,” he reasoned. “Because there was a lot of fouling going on at that corner, there was a lot of grappling by Arsenal players on the West Ham attackers … I know it was probably a foul on [Raya] but do you not then look at before, when people are being held, which is probably more an obvious foul?” Micah Richards observed: “It depends what camp you’re in. If you’re in Man City’s camp, you’re saying it’s not a foul and [at] Arsenal, you’re saying it’s a foul. It’s as simple as that.”
West Ham intend to seek further clarification and the audio between referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England, according to BBC Sport. The VAR process lasted two minutes, 41 seconds; the touchline monitor review one minute, 15 seconds; total review time four minutes, 11 seconds. The episode has reignited the long-standing debate over consistency and how the laws should be applied in crowded penalty-area situations.
Arsenal
Why Lewis-Skelly Could Appeal to Chelsea and Manchester United
Lewis-Skelly is attracting interest, with Chelsea and Manchester United weighing a possible move.
Myles Lewis-Skelly may be entering a difficult stage in his Arsenal career after the club’s $101 million (£75 million) move for Bruno Guimarães reduced the space for him in the squad. The teenager’s minutes fell in 2025-26, yet he still managed to start in central midfield ahead of Martín Zubimendi in the Champions League final alongside Declan Rice.
Even so, the market is already circling. football.london report that Chelsea and Manchester United have both been offered Lewis-Skelly, with Arsenal possibly open to a sale. Chelsea have held a long-term interest in the player and, according to the report, a “good offer” could be difficult for the club to turn down.
Sky Sports add that Chelsea have made a “new enquiry” for the England international. Arsenal, however, “do not want to sell” to a local rival, which points to the possibility that the player has been put forward by representatives or intermediaries who believe his minutes could decline further if he stays in north London.
For Chelsea, the issue is practical as much as strategic. The club are trying to trim a bloated squad, but Marc Cucurella’s sale to Real Madrid earlier this summer means they need a direct replacement at left back. Rayo Vallecano fullback Pep Chavarría is said to be close to Stamford Bridge, though the 28-year-old does not carry the same long-term appeal as Lewis-Skelly.
Manchester United would also see the 18-year-old as a player who covers more than one need. He can operate at left back and in midfield, giving them short-term depth for Luke Shaw as well as a longer-term option. Their midfield picture is also thin, with only Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos available as senior central midfielders, or four if Mason Mount is counted in a deeper role.
The Guardian report that Lewis-Skelly could be priced at around $61 million (£45 million). Given the sums United have already spent on Santos and Tielemans this summer, the deal would sit within reach. Arsenal, meanwhile, may decide that a player not central to Arteta’s plans is still valuable as a source of major transfer income.
Arsenal
Arteta Signals Arsenal Are Still in the Market After Vinícius Júnior Miss
Arteta says Arsenal are still “trying” to add elite players after missing out on Vinícius Júnior.
Mikel Arteta has made clear that Arsenal are still searching for top-level additions after missing out on Vinícius Júnior from Real Madrid.
The Arsenal manager said the club are “trying” to strengthen further, even after the arrival of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United gave the squad a timely lift. But for Arteta, the work is not done.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Arteta said after Sunday’s defeat to Borussia Dortmund when asked whether fans can expect more new signings.
“It has to be the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very much looking forward to that.”
Arsenal remain in a difficult position as the summer window moves towards its final weeks. They have pursued several targets openly, including Rogers and Vinícius Jr., yet the club are still not close to completing another deal.
A left winger continues to be a key priority. The departure of Leandro Trossard to Beşiktaş was balanced by the arrival of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, but Arsenal still appear to want a higher-level option in that area. An upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli would, in the view of the club, raise the side to another level.
Barcola is still available, although he is expected to be extremely expensive. Other possible options, including AC Milan’s Rafael Leão and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, are also mentioned as players who may yet be available.
Defensive reinforcements are also under consideration. Arteta has already said it will be some time before William Saliba returns from a back injury, while Jurriën Timber is dealing with a groin problem and will miss the start of the season.
Ezri Konsa is understood to sit high on Arsenal’s shortlist. The Guardian reported that an opening bid has already been turned down, with Villa standing firm at $81 million (£60 million).
Arsenal
Arteta gives fresh update on Saliba and Timber as Arsenal wait on key defenders
Arteta says Timber is weeks away and Saliba is in rest mode, leaving Arsenal short in defence.
Arsenal will remain without two important defenders for the opening stretch of the 2026/27 Premier League season, after Mikel Arteta offered another update on Jurriën Timber and William Saliba.
Timber has been involved with the pre-season squad, but Arteta said the right back is not close to a full return. The Dutchman remains “still weeks away” from playing, with the manager adding that there is no exact timeline. Arsenal begin their title defence with a Friday night trip to Coventry City on Aug. 21, and with four league matches to follow before the September international break, a comeback before October appears unlikely.
“I cannot be very precise with [Timber’s return schedule],” Arteta told reporters. “Jurriën is progressing really well. He’s on the [training] pitch and doing quite a lot right now but is still weeks away [from playing a match]—I cannot tell you how [many weeks].”
Saliba’s situation looks even more serious. The defender went to the World Cup, but a back injury that was worsened in France’s semifinal defeat to Spain last month has ruled him out of contention. Arsenal had already confirmed that he would miss an “extended period,” and Arteta now says “Willy is in rest mode” and has done “almost nothing” over recent weeks so as not to aggravate the problem further. “It’s going to take some time to heal.”
That leaves Arsenal with a notable gap beside Gabriel at the heart of defence. Cristhian Mosquera is again in line to cover for Saliba, while Timber’s absence increases the need for Ben White on the right, despite transfer links this summer. Piero Hincapié is another option at centre back, although he has mainly been used at left back because of Riccardo Calafiori’s inconsistent availability.
