The fallout from Arsenal’s dramatic 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday continues to dominate Premier League debate after a former top-flight referee proposed a major change to football’s laws following the controversial late VAR decision at the London Stadium.

Arsenal looked set to leave East London with all three points thanks to Leandro Trossard’s 83rd-minute winner, a goal that moved Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear at the top of the table with just two matches remaining.

However, the biggest talking point came deep into stoppage time when West Ham believed they had rescued a dramatic equaliser. The home crowd erupted after the ball found the back of the net, only for celebrations to be cut short following a lengthy four-minute VAR review.

Video Assistant Referee Darren England advised on-field official Chris Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor after replays appeared to show West Ham forward Pablo making contact with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya moments before the goal.

After reviewing the footage, Kavanagh ruled the goal out and awarded Arsenal a foul, sparking furious reactions from West Ham players, supporters, and pundits across social media.

The controversy has now led to fresh calls for changes to how goalkeeper contact is interpreted inside the penalty area. Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett suggested the laws should be clarified to prevent what he believes are “soft” fouls from deciding crucial matches at the highest level.

Hackett reportedly proposed that officials should only penalise contact on goalkeepers if it clearly prevents them from making a legitimate attempt to play the ball, rather than awarding fouls for minimal physical contact during crowded situations.

The incident has reignited long-running debates surrounding VAR consistency in the Premier League, with many fans questioning why similar incidents are judged differently from week to week.

Some pundits defended the decision, arguing that goalkeepers require additional protection inside the six-yard box, while others insisted the contact on Raya was too minor to overturn a dramatic late equaliser.

The Premier League has yet to comment publicly on the proposed rule adjustment, but the controversy is expected to increase pressure on refereeing bodies ahead of the summer review of VAR protocols.

For Arsenal, the victory could prove decisive in the title race as they edge closer to another Premier League crown. For West Ham, meanwhile, the anger surrounding the disallowed goal may linger long after the final whistle.