Arsenal VAR carnage sees rule change demanded by ex-Premier League official

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Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has proposed that attacking players be barred from the goal area before corners are taken . His remarks follow Sunday's contentious VAR incident in the dying moments of Arsenal's thrilling 1-0 win at West Ham United.

The Gunners were ahead through Leandro Trossard's 83rd-minute strike before the hosts believed they had snatched a vital stoppage-time leveller. Substitute Callum Wilson powered home a finish in a crowded penalty box from a corner.

However, a prolonged VAR review saw the goal disallowed by referee Chris Kavanagh. It was determined that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had been fouled by West Ham forward Pablo.

Cann has since spoken on BBC Radio 5 Live about how such an incident in east London could be prevented - putting forward a potential rule change.

He said: "I think there is too much skirmishing generally at corners anyway. My idea that I have been saying for three years now is that I believe attacking players shouldn't be allowed in the goal area before the corner is taken, so that would give natural separation between defenders and attackers and it would stop the intermingling before the ball is in play.

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"You can't give a defensive free kick or a penalty if the ball is not in play, so it would stop this constant pushing and grappling at corners if we separate the players.

"It is a simple law change for attackers to have to start outside the goal area and it would avoid these situations."

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Arteta, meanwhile, has heaped praise on the officials at Sunday's match following the hugely significant incident.

The 44-year-old said: "It was a very brave call and consistent with what they've been talking about all season. When I have to be critical, I have been.

"This time I have to praise them, at least for giving the option to a referee to decide, away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call."

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The Spaniard has acknowledged the weight of the decision with Arsenal chasing a first Premier League title since 2004 and West Ham battling to steer clear of the drop.

He added: "When you look at it, it is an obvious foul, a free kick, and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations, because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.

"I've now realised how difficult and how big the referee's job is because you're talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives."

The Gunners now require just two further victories to be crowned Premier League champions.