Jarrod Bowen asks 'where's the consistency?' after late VAR call as Arsenal beat West Ham United in Premier League

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West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen asked "where's the consistency?" as a stoppage-time goal was dramatically chalked off after a VAR review in their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

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The Gunners moved five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, thanks to Leandro Trossard's late goal, and they will be champions if they win their two remaining matches, at home to Burnley and away to Crystal Palace.

But West Ham are now in even deeper relegation trouble. If Tottenham Hotspur beat Leeds United on Monday, they will move four points ahead of The Hammers with two games remaining.

On the late VAR decision, when Callum Wilson's strike was overturned after a review for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, Bowen had plenty to say.

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"A real blow. We thought we'd done so well to get back in it and had it taken away from us," Bowen told the BBC.

"When you look at the screen for five minutes you'll find something - a lot of grappling and a lot of holding. I'm sure if you look long enough you'll find something. Do I think it's the right decision? No.

"Frustration. Where's the consistency? As a fan you don't want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it's taken off you.

Pablo of West Ham United challenges David Raya of Arsenal

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"Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That's why everyone loves it. You have to expect contact at corners. If you give that you have to give all the holding calls in the world and that's not the way people want the game to go down.

"I don't want to sound bitter but last week we had one with Tomas Soucek held at Brentford and we didn't get a penalty. But then you can't give one like that today."

Jarrod Bowen and a number of West Ham players confront referee Chris Kavanagh after the game

Image credit: Getty Images

Trossard struck seven minutes from time for Arsenal, on an afternoon full of tension in east London.

Arsenal had the pressure back on them after Manchester City beat Brentford 3-0 on Saturday. But they responded with a priceless win of their own and now have it in their hands to seal a first title in 22 years.

Their remaining games are at home to Burnley on May 18 and away at Palace on the final day of the season, May 24.

A relieved Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also reflected on the drama of the late VAR call.

"In the end, this is the beauty of the Premier League," Arteta told the BBC.

"In all this chaos and with the keeper in your box, they managed to score. The referee and the VAR today had a lot of courage to stop and analyse the action and give the opportunity to the referee to make the call.

"I think nobody would disagree that it is a clear foul because David has the ball almost in his hands and they don't allow him to do that and they take advantage to score the goal."

On his team being so close to the league title, Arteta added: "Now we leave and enjoy what we have done today, because as I said it has been an incredible week.

"Those players, the way they are standing in front of the opportunity and showing resilience is remarkable - recover a little bit and start to prepare for Burnley."

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