VAR Disallows West Ham Goal in Arsenal Win Over Set-Piece Foul on Raya

Premier League set pieces this season have produced constant grappling, pushing and wrestling among players, not just goals.

The issue peaked in February when about 15 Manchester United and Everton players crowded the six-yard box. Players hit the floor before the ball even arrived. "You get the feeling now that referees really don't want to get involved in any of it," Everton manager David Moyes said.

This problem extends beyond England. BBC Sport spoke with Roberto Rosetti, head of Uefa's referees. He focused first on goalkeepers facing pressure at set pieces. Arsenal leads the way, crowding keepers at corners to score. The club has netted 21 of its 68 league goals (31 percent) from set pieces.

On Sunday, a season-shaping VAR call affected Arsenal's title push and West Ham's fight to stay up. West Ham's Jarrod Bowen prepared a corner. Chaos filled the penalty area as he crossed. Callum Wilson fired a shot over the line. VAR Darren England reviewed five potential fouls.

First, Tomas Soucek climbed over Kai Havertz at the near post. Havertz faced the ball and fell with Soucek on top. But they were away from the ball's path, and VAR would allow it.

Martin Odegaard and Jean-Clair Todibo held each other mutually. No offence called.

Leandro Trossard grabbed Pablo Fornals around the waist outside the six-yard box as Pablo ran toward goal. Pablo reached the ball's flight, so no penalty.

Pablo then fouled Arsenal keeper David Raya inside the box. He placed his arm across Raya and held the goalkeeper's left arm, pinning Raya's right arm too. This blocked Raya from claiming the ball. Todibo pulled Raya's shirt, but Pablo committed the key foul.

Declan Rice held West Ham's Konstantinos Mavropanos around the waist. It happened at the same time as Pablo's foul on Raya, so VAR prioritized the keeper's challenge.

West Ham's goal stood as the only one disallowed this season for such jostling on VAR review. Four other goals fell to fouls, but not this reason. Seventeen penalties came for pulling and holding, five via VAR. Three more should have been awarded.

Similar incidents involved Arsenal. In a 1-0 win at Manchester United, William Saliba pressed keeper Altay Bayindir from a corner goal. The key match incidents panel found no pushing or holding offence.

Arsenal's 4-1 win over Aston Villa saw Gabriel jump with Emiliano Martinez, elbow raised. The panel ruled no foul due to minimal contact.

In Manchester City's 3-1 win over Bournemouth, David Brooks held Gianluigi Donnarumma's arm but released before the keeper challenged. The panel backed the goal.

Referees can stop play for pre-ball grappling and order retakes, but it keeps happening. Everyone grapples, from defenders to attackers.

The Premier League's PGMO surveys coaches, captains, fans and media on refereeing each season. It has prompted changes like handball tweaks. Hair pulling and box grappling may arise this summer. Refs might issue more yellows before kick.

Former assistant referee Darren Cann proposed banning attackers from the six-yard box before corners. "Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play, and then obviously the referee can't give a penalty, can't give an indirect free-kick, if the ball is not in play," Cann said. "So this would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations."

Another idea: make play live once the ball sits in the corner arc. Fouls before delivery could then draw penalties or free kicks, forcing separation.