Mikel Arteta congratulated the "brave" match officials for overturning an "obvious error" in Arsenal's controversial 1-0 win against West Ham which edges them closer to a first Premier League title in 22 years.
Leandro Trossard fired Arteta’s side ahead with just seven minutes remaining before Callum Wilson appeared to deal a hammer blow to the Gunners’ championship aspirations – and a crucial boost to West Ham’s hopes of survival – in stoppage time.
But after referee Chis Kavanagh was sent to the on-pitch monitor by VAR, and then watched an extraordinary 17 replays of the flashpoint, he elected to chalk off the equaliser, with Pablo Felipe adjudged to have fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
West Ham were furious with the decision, but for Arsenal it takes them five points clear of City, and leaves them only two matches away from the title.
And Arteta said: "It was a call from the ref that is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.
"When I have to be critical, I have been. And today 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. And when you look at the action in that way, it is an obvious error.
"It is a free-kick, and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations, because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.
"Today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, and the course, of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge."
The contentious verdict keeps the title race in Arsenal’s hands, and victory against Burnley a week on Monday and then Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on May 24 will be enough to carry Arteta’s men to the title.
And, if City fail to beat Palace in their next match, at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, Arsenal will be given the opportunity to secure the championship in their penultimate game.
Two minutes and 35 seconds passed following Wilson’s strike in the fifth of six-added on minutes, before Kavanagh was instructed to go to the monitor.
And for relegation-threatened West Ham, the disallowed goal leaves them a point behind Tottenham, having played a game more.
Forward Jarrod Bowen said: "We had our big moment, and we thought we’d got back into the game. (But if you) look at something for five minutes, you’re trying to find something.
"Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players. There’s lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? Because that’s the only way that is the right way to do it.
"It’s a corner kick, it’s physical, it’s the Premier League. There’s going to be contact and tussles.
"People are going to say I sound bitter but I’m just being honest. I’m sure we could go back through every single game and see goalkeepers getting fouled and not getting decisions. If you’re going to give it, give it for every single thing every week."
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo matched Bowen’s fury. He said: "You look at every corner in the Premier League and something like this is happening, not just today, but on all the pitches.
"I am talking about the lack of consistency. The players are confused and frustrated, and they don’t understand it. It is upsetting. It is up to them to solve it, there is a referee and VAR, but the referees confuse themselves."
