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Arsenal supporters were left covering their faces as referee Chris Kavanagh confirmed that Callum Wilson's strike in the 95th minute had crossed the goal line.
Following a scramble from a corner kick, Wilson unleashed a powerful shot that was clearly over the line before being deflected away, yet an incensed Mikel Arteta made his displeasure known, insisting the goal should not be allowed.
An extended VAR review was required to settle a call that could well be remembered as the pivotal moment of the entire season. Allowing the goal would have brought Manchester City back into contention in the Premier League title race, while disallowing it would keep Arsenal firmly in the driving seat and simultaneously deliver a crushing blow to West Ham's hopes of avoiding relegation.
The final ruling came down in Arsenal's favor, with the goal disallowed and the Gunners escaping the London Stadium with a narrow 1–0 win.
Why West Ham's Goal Was Ruled Out
Arteta, displaying remarkable awareness, was quick to signal that goalkeeper David Raya had been obstructed by West Ham forward Pablo.
Replays revealed Pablo had placed his arm across Raya's chest, with the goalkeeper going down theatrically shortly afterward. The VAR review focused on whether Pablo had grabbed Raya's arm and compromised the Arsenal shot-stopper's ability to collect the ball, which he had initially failed to deal with.
A pitchside review was recommended, and the referee ultimately concluded that Pablo had illegally hindered Raya's ability to claim the ball.
Consequently, Arsenal were awarded a free kick, allowing them to hold on and secure a tense victory.
#WHUARS – 90+5' VAR OVERTURN
After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to West Ham United.
Referee announcement: "After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick."
The Controversy Behind the Decision
Social media users were remarkably swift in drawing attention to a strikingly similar incident from the very first gameweek of the season.
Arsenal defeated Manchester United 1–0 at Old Trafford thanks to a header from Riccardo Calafiori just 13 minutes in. Altay Bayındır, United's goalkeeper that day, immediately contested the goal, claiming he had been obstructed by William Saliba.
Video footage appeared to show Saliba grabbing Bayındır's arm, yet no foul was awarded and Arsenal's goal was allowed to stand.
Serious questions will now be raised about the consistency of officiating decisions which, given how tight the margins are, look set to have a significant bearing on the outcome of the Premier League title race.