Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has shared his expert opinion on West Ham’s disallowed goal against Arsenal.
Referee Chris Kavanagh controversially denied West Ham a point after Pablo Felipe was penalised for a foul on David Raya.
Without Callum Wilson’s injury-time equaliser, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side lost 1-0 and remain in the relegation zone.
Friedel has now explained whether VAR made the right decision amid the inconsistency surrounding set pieces.
- READ MORE: ‘There’s your problem’ – Sam Allardyce says West Ham have made the same mistake all season
How do you feel about the decision now the VAR audio has been released? 😬
What was the correct decision? Goal, no goal or penalty? 🤔
Brad Friedel reacts to controversial West Ham VAR decision
As a former Premier League goalkeeper, Friedel’s analysis carries more weight than most pundits’ in this situation.
The former United States international actually admitted goalkeepers “get away with murder” in the penalty area.
However, Friedel believes Kavanagh was correct to call a foul against Pablo for his contact on Raya last weekend.
His bigger issue was that Arsenal players are particularly aggressive from set pieces, including from the one that led to Wilson’s goal.
Oh wow 👀 How has Tottenham’s draw with Leeds made YOU feel about the relegation battle?!
This weirdly feels like a boost?
Friedel suggested they committed several fouls in the build-up to Pablo’s foul that were either missed or ignored by VAR.
“Although I was a goalkeeper, I think goalkeepers are overprotected,” Friedel assessed the VAR controversy on talkSPORT.
“Especially inside the six-yard box, we’re allowed to use our hands and get an extra couple of yards above the heads of attackers.
“You saw a shirt tug, and when a player goes across the arms and impedes a goalkeeper from jumping, it is a foul.
“On this particular play, there are probably about six to 10 fouls on every set piece involving Arsenal this year, for and against.
“On this occasion, there were probably three fouls against Raya, but there were probably three prior to that event even happening that weren’t even associated with Raya.”
Given that fouls are judged in chronological order, West Ham supporters could argue that they deserved a penalty.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard were all involved in physical tussles.
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