West Ham believed they had earned a dramatic equaliser deep in stoppage time when Callum Wilson scored, a goal that could have affected Arsenal’s title push while improving West Ham’s survival hopes.

However, after a detailed VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Pablo Fornals on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Arsenal eventually secured a narrow 1-0 win, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points over Manchester City, while West Ham remained in 18th position.

Speaking on the “Wayne Rooney Show,” he said the decision was correct despite the controversy surrounding it.

He explained that the contact on Raya clearly affected the goalkeeper’s ability to challenge for the ball, describing it as a definite foul and a justified VAR intervention.

Rooney added that while opinions would differ among fans and teams involved, the officials made the right call based on what occurred in the incident.

He also praised VAR for its handling of such a high-pressure moment in an important match, stating that it performed effectively.

Despite supporting the decision, Rooney admitted he has often been critical of the level of protection given to goalkeepers in football.

He said he dislikes how easily fouls are awarded in favour of goalkeepers, noting that even minimal contact is often penalised.

Rooney further explained that goalkeepers already have a physical advantage in the penalty area due to how they can use their arms and body positioning.

He concluded that consistency in refereeing decisions usually works in favour of goalkeepers, as any slight contact often results in a free-kick being awarded.