(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Thu 14 May 2026 17:00, UK

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West Ham United’s disallowed goal against Arsenal still doesn’t prove that VAR is a benefit to the Premier League.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who states that VAR has got many decisions wrong in previous matches.

The technology has split opinion since being introduced into the Premier League at the beginning of the 2019-20 season.

In one of its biggest interventions since its inception, Callum Wilson’s stoppage time equaliser was disallowed against Arsenal after referee Chris Kavanagh was called over to the screen and alerted to a foul by Pablo on goalkeeper David Raya.

The decision could have a massive effect on West Ham’s relegation battle, and Arsenal’s bid to win a first Premier League title since 2004.

West Ham decision fails to be ‘great advert’ for VAR

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that law changes around grappling in the penalty area would make VAR’s life easier.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness says he has some “sympathy” with West Ham over VAR’s decision to rule out Wilson’s strike.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Everyone is saying that this was a great advert for the technology because it proved it was the right decision.

“I’ve seen VAR get some right, but they’ve missed quite a few and have some bad ones as well, so I’m not convinced yet.

“There needs to be some law changes about the penalty box for corners and free kicks because it is just ludicrous right now.

“It’s not the way the game should be played, and certainly I have sympathy for West Ham, but in the end it was the right decision, just magnified by the timing.”

West Ham need to sort out Nuno Espirito Santo’s future

After failing to pick up a point against Arsenal, West Ham go into their final two games of the season against Newcastle and Leeds the favourites to be the third and final team relegated.

With the club’s future uncertain, there are doubts over whether manager Nuno Espirito Santo will remain at the London Stadium in the Championship.

Wyness told Football Insider that West Ham should try and keep Nuno at the club, even if that means his agent, Jorge Mendes, being involved in their summer transfer business.

The financial situation at West Ham means player sales are expected to happen, and a rebuild of the squad would be required if they dropped into the second tier.