Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, has slammed Arsenal following their contentious 1-0 victory against West Ham United on Sunday.
Ikpeba expressed his disapproval of both VAR and the Gunners’ physical tactics during set-piece scenarios.
Arsenal bolstered their standing in the Premier League title race with a hard-earned win over West Ham United on Sunday evening, with Leandro Trossard scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal at the London Stadium.
Trossard broke the stalemate in the 83rd minute, setting Arsenal on the path to a crucial victory, but there was tension deep into stoppage time when Callum Wilson seemed to have salvaged a dramatic equaliser for West Ham.
However, following strong objections from Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya, the Video Assistant Referee intervened to assess the situation.
After a prolonged review and a visit to the pitchside monitor, referee Chris Kavanagh ruled out the goal due to a foul by Pablo in the build-up.
Ikpeba contended that Arsenal frequently avoids repercussions for their assertive style of play within the box and criticized the lengthy review process that annulled West Ham’s late equaliser.
Ikpeba said on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, “VAR is failing to fulfill its intended purpose in the English Premier League. When discussing shoving and pushing, the one club that engages in it more than others is Arsenal.
“They intimidate defences and face no consequences, so in this instance, it is merely a slight touch. And for VAR to take five minutes to reach a decision…”
As reported by the BBC, West Ham is expected to reach out to the referees’ organization, the Professional Game Match Officials, PGMO, regarding the disallowed late equaliser against Arsenal.