In a dramatic London derby that had major implications for the Premier League title race, Mikel Arteta has lauded the "courage" of match officials after VAR controversially disallowed West Ham's stoppage-time equalizer against Arsenal.

The Gunners held on for a nervy 1-0 victory at the London Stadium, thanks to Leandro Trossard's 83rd-minute strike. However, the real drama unfolded in added time when West Ham's Callum Wilson thought he had salvaged a point, only for the goal to be chalked off after a lengthy VAR review determined that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had been fouled in the build-up.

For Arsenal, this win puts them within touching distance of the Premier League title—just two victories away from glory. For West Ham, it was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given the high stakes at both ends of the table.

Arteta, who has been vocal about VAR inconsistency in the past, praised the officials for their bravery in making a season-defining call under immense pressure. "I have been asking for them to be consistent and have sometimes been critical, but today they showed a lot of courage," said the Arsenal boss. "It was a really brave process. When you see the action with full clarity, it's an obvious error, and the goal has to be disallowed. Even though the pressure was huge, I'm very happy because it was the right decision."

The match wasn't without its challenges for Arsenal, who lost key players early to injuries. But Arteta highlighted the depth of his squad, saying, "We lost Ben and we had to adjust the team a little bit; then we lost Richy. But the beauty of this is that the finishers are always ready to make the difference. Martin did an action that is just pure magic to set up Leo to score the goal."

Beyond the title race, this result also impacts the relegation battle, adding another layer of intrigue to an already thrilling season. For fans keeping up with the action, moments like these remind us why football is called the beautiful game—and why the right gear, from jerseys to training kits, helps you feel part of every dramatic moment.