Bowen: If you make that decision, every hold in the world should be a foul

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen has voiced his doubts about the consistency of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system after a late equalizer against Arsenal in the Premier League was disallowed. Following a scramble in the Gunners' penalty area, Callum Wilson found the net, briefly reigniting the Hammers' hopes of avoiding relegation. However, the goal was chalked off after a lengthy VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya. Arsenal held onto their lead, delivering a significant blow to West Ham's survival ambitions.

“When you look at the screen for five minutes, you're going to find something – a lot of pulling and holding. I'm sure if you look long enough, you'll find something. Do I think it's the right decision? No. Where's the consistency? As a fan, you don't want to celebrate a goal and then have it taken away after an eight-minute wait,” Bowen told the BBC after the match.

Earlier in the season, Arsenal faced criticism for their corner kick tactics, which often involved crowding and pushing opposing goalkeepers. Jarrod Bowen highlighted a decision from earlier in the month when his West Ham side was denied a penalty against Brentford, despite midfielder Tomas Soucek being held in the box.

“Corners are moments of physical clashes. The Premier League is a tough league, that's why everyone loves it. You have to expect contact during corners. If you're making this decision, then fouls should be given for every hold in the world, and that's not how people want football to be played,” the English forward added.

The defeat leaves West Ham in 18th place in the standings with 36 points, two rounds before the end of the season – one point below the safety line, currently occupied by Tottenham with 37 points.

This season, the VAR system has faced significant criticism, with a survey indicating that 75% of fans do not support its use. However, the Premier League believes that VAR leads to more correct decisions, while not intervening as frequently as in other European leagues.