Adrian Durham criticized VAR after it failed to penalize an incident during the West Ham United vs. Arsenal match, which ended 5-2 in favor of the Gunners on November 30, 2024. The broadcaster addressed the issue on talkSPORT on December 1, questioning the system’s decision-making process after Arsenal’s first goal. Gabriel Magalhães scored from a corner in the 10th minute, but before that, Jurrien Timber was seen making contact with Lucas Paquetá at the near post, causing Paquetá to miss the ball. Durham was baffled that VAR did not intervene, pointing out that the foul on Paquetá appeared to be a clear violation that led to the goal. He argued that if such incidents were reviewed in fine detail, as seen in the case of a disallowed goal in Southampton, then surely this one should have been penalized too. His frustration was clear, as he expressed disbelief that VAR could miss something as obvious as a barge in the back.
Despite Durham’s complaints, West Ham’s loss cannot solely be attributed to VAR. The Hammers’ defense was largely to blame for their defeat. While conceding the first goal from the corner can be overlooked as a momentary lapse, the subsequent goals exposed serious weaknesses in their backline. Even after Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri attempted to mount a comeback, Bukayo Saka’s penalty just before halftime seemed to seal West Ham’s fate. The defending was subpar, and manager Julen Lopetegui must take responsibility for the poor performance. West Ham conceded five goals in the first half, which raised further questions about the team’s defensive organization. While some had hoped that the team would carry over their strong performance from their 2-0 victory over Newcastle on November 25, this match was a stark contrast, showing that the victory against Newcastle might have been a one-off.
West Ham had bolstered their defense during the summer transfer window with signings like Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, who had formed a solid partnership at the back in recent matches. However, after the heavy defeat to Arsenal, it became clear that this defensive pairing was not enough to stop the Gunners’ attacking onslaught. There are calls for Konstantinos Mavropanos, another defensive option, to be given a chance to return to the starting lineup. The heavy loss to Arsenal put additional pressure on Lopetegui, whose tactics and decisions were heavily scrutinized.
In other West Ham-related news, Alan Pardew expressed his disappointment over the defeat. The loss at home to Arsenal was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after the team had shown such promise just days earlier. The performance against Newcastle had sparked some optimism, but the West Ham supporters were left deflated as they watched their team collapse against one of the league’s top sides. It seems that Lopetegui’s team is still struggling to find consistent form, and the manager will have to work hard to rectify the defensive issues that were laid bare in the Arsenal match.
Ultimately, while VAR’s failure to penalize the foul in the lead-up to Arsenal’s first goal might have left some feeling aggrieved, the real problem for West Ham was their defensive frailty. If they are to bounce back from this defeat, Lopetegui and his squad must address the issues at the back and find a way to maintain their solid performances throughout the season. Fans will be hoping that the victory over Newcastle was a glimpse of what the team is capable of, but after such a humbling defeat, the pressure on the manager and players will only intensify.
