West Ham United

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "We have Adama [Traore] out for the game but the rest of the squad is good. He has a muscle injury - he is recovering but he was not available for Arsenal and he'll miss this one."

• Asked if Callum Wilson will be given more game time, Nuno said he will "decide tomorrow, for the team".

• On the Hammers' penultimate game this season: "Every game is a new game. I believe you keep your approach and the values are the same from the first round to the last round. Everything is going to be decided by the two rounds. If I give a rousing speech in the first round, I will give it in the last round as well. It will be the same."

• On the mental aspect of Sunday's game: "We knew some while ago that it [the relegation battle] will be decided now [in the last games]. Our job is to focus and prepare our players and get them ready for Sunday. That is our priority. We are ready, we are positive and we believe."

• He added: "Every game is a must win and nothing has changed. The importance of the points is the same. I hope the players stay focused, do their task and ignore the outside noise. What I try to give our players is confidence."

• Asked about the complaint West Ham filed over their late equaliser being disallowed against Arsenal, Nuno said: "We tried to find some answers with things we are concerned about. I suppose we [Premier League clubs] all compare similar situations and this is why we need consistency. I don't have time to think about the changes and finding solutions is not my problem. The referees must understand the needs of solving this doubt. I believe the Premier League and the referees will solve it."

• He added: "The job of the referees is really hard and difficult. VAR was supposed to help the referees. Is it helping? Is it creating more questions? I believe they can do better."

You can listen to match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live at 17:30 on Sunday

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Three more video assistant referee errors have been confirmed by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel, taking the total this season to 23.

The panel has recorded three errors involving penalties, two of which should have been awarded for holding offences.

West Ham should have been given two spot-kicks in their 3-0 loss at Brentford - though one of the decisions was not considered to have reached the VAR threshold.

Keane Lewis-Potter held Tomas Soucek "in a clear non-footballing action which impacted the West Ham player's movement" and the panel unanimously felt the VAR Tony Harrington should have stepped in.

It was also felt referee Craig Pawson should have pointed to the spot in the 77th minute when Yehor Yarmolyuk slipped and brought down Pablo inside the area.

That was a split 3-2 vote for a spot-kick, but 4-1 against a VAR review.

• Read Dale's piece in full

Paris St-Germain are among the clubs interested in 21-year-old West Ham and Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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BBC Sport football issues correspondent Dale Johnson has written this piece looking at how VAR has this week been involved in two big decisions in title races in both England and Scotland - and in the case of the Premier League, the relegation battle too.

So we asked supporters of clubs involved - including West Ham fan contributor Holly Turbutt - what it says about how VAR is working...

The VAR decision in the West Ham-Arsenal game has caused a huge debate among fans as to how useful this technology actually is in the Premier League.

We know it was introduced to stop those clear and obvious errors that we were seeing happening quite a lot with referees, but the problem is that it still comes down to human error and human decision-making, and you can't look at everything across the board.

That's where the frustration is coming.

We're seeing inconsistencies as fans. We're seeing four-minute checks when fans don't know whether to celebrate or not. We're seeing so many situations that don't get looked - or a situation that is given as a foul through VAR in one game, but not in another.

And you've also got the situation when, if a referee goes to the screen, 99% of the time it feels like they are going to change their mind.

All of this means VAR does not feel like the useful resource we hoped it might be when it was introduced.

Ultimately, VAR shines a spotlight on one moment but then it still comes down to a human decision in that moment, which is prone to human error and bound to cause debate among fans because it's such a pressured environment.

The question is: has it actually changed anything?

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external

Premier League sides West Ham and Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on 21-year-old Pape Moussa Fall, a 6ft 6in Senegalese striker who is on loan at Belgian side RAAL La Louviere from Metz. (TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb has admitted that Everton should have been awarded a penalty in the 2-1 defeat at West Ham last month.

David Moyes' side trailed 1-0 in the 84th minute when Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes touched the ball with his hand during a tussle with Thierno Barry.

"He punched the ball," Moyes said after the game. "It would have been harsh, but I'm amazed they haven't given it."

The video assistant referee, Michael Salisbury, chose not to intervene as Fernandes "accidentally handled the ball while grappling with an opponent".

But Webb has said that the VAR made a mistake and should have advised a spot kick.

"From the outset, I want to say we think a penalty should've been awarded here against Fernandes," Webb said on Match Officials Mic'd Up.

"However, I don't think he really meant to deliberately handle the ball.

"He doesn't make himself unnaturally bigger here. He moves his arm forward. I think he's probably trying to prevent the attacker from turning him. But in doing that, he kind of bats the ball away.

"He can't even see the ball, but Fernandes knows more or less where the ball is, and it's a deliberate action with his arm, probably not to handle the ball, but to do something.

"And therefore, I think we've given Fernandes way too much benefit of the doubt here.

"In this situation, a penalty would've been the right outcome."

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was hard not to feel defeated after West Ham's controversial home loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

Failing to take at least a point from that game meant Tottenham had a chance to put a four-point cushion between them and the bottom three with just two games to play, when they hosted Leeds on Monday night. That would've left zero room for error for West Ham at Newcastle on Sunday.

But Spurs' 1-1 draw on Monday night means there's still a lot of hope that the great escape is still on in east London.

Victory at St James' Park will guarantee a tense final day of the season, even if Spurs do manage to record only their second ever Premier League win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

If it does go to the final day, then it's hard to look past West Ham winning. West Ham have just one loss from their last seven home games (W3, D3). In addition, with the fans in a similar voice as they were against the Gunners on Sunday and with Leeds having nothing to play for, Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be clear favourites.

If the gap is still two points, then of course West Ham will need former boss David Moyes to do them a favour by beating Spurs away with Everton. A draw won't do because West Ham's goal difference is considerably worse. But an Everton win isn't entirely out of the question, given they'll likely need a win for a chance of qualifying for Europe, while Spurs have just two home wins to their name all season.

Ideally, West Ham will need a win to guarantee survival on the final day, without needing Everton to get something at Spurs. If that's how it's set up, I back us to get the job done. If not, having to rely on results elsewhere is far from ideal.

Either way, this coming weekend is absolutely huge. West Ham could be relegated by Tuesday night, or they could be 90 minutes from Premier League survival.

Not sure my heart can take any more…

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

With two games left, the relegation fight between Tottenham and West Ham is on a knife edge - and their recent form tells two very different stories.

Tottenham have somewhat steadied themselves under Roberto de Zerbi. They are four games unbeaten (W2 D2), their longest run without defeat this season, and one that reflects a side finally showing some resilience after months of turbulence.

Their last unbeaten run of five matches came in December and January, a period that seems a long time ago now.

Momentum has rarely been Spurs' friend this year, but avoiding defeat at this stage is no small thing.

West Ham, by contrast, are sliding at the worst possible moment. Defeat at Newcastle would make it three losses on the bounce, something that has already happened twice under Nuno Espirito Santo - once in October and again in December.

When results dip, they tend to dip quickly, and the Hammers' season has been punctuated by damaging spells that have dragged them back into trouble.

Spurs still have their fate in their own hands, while West Ham's margin for error is shrinking fast. Over the next two defining games, survival may hinge on who holds their nerve.

Read the full story here

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in West Ham's Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes, 21. (Sky Sports), external

England forward Jarrod Bowen, 29, could remain with the Hammers even if they are relegated from the Premier League. (Teamtalk), external

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Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has outlined his idea to improve how corners are officiated in future.

In the aftermath of weekend controversy over players grappling in the penalty area, he has told BBC Sport a rule whereby attacking players cannot enter the six-yard box until a corner has been taken would be his preference.

Ex-Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha backed the idea and thinks it will add "creativity" to corner kicks and the move would force "people to think in a different way".

You can watch a clip of the debate above, with Onuoha stating: "Twenty players standing in the six-yard box, you have to ask yourself, is that what you want to see? And is that the best version of the game?"

• Listen to the show in full on BBC Sounds

• Watch the show in full on iPlayer

Three Premier League clubs - Newcastle, Liverpool, and Everton - are targeting forward Jarrod Bowen, even if West Ham avoid relegation. (Mail), external

The Hammers have put a price of £84m on midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who has attracted interest from Manchester United and Paris St-Germain. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Holly Turbutt
Fan contributor

The VAR call in West Ham's defeat at the Arsenal feels "painful", says fan Holly Turbutt.

The moment proved the talking point of the weekend and pushed the Hammers closer to relegation.

"It does feel like the final straw that is going to send us down," she explains.

"It's horrible to see, it's horrible because we did manage to stay in that game and it's horrible as it means so much for us to stay in the Premier League.

"Now we are left feeling like we need a miracle to be able to stay up. Here's hoping. It's not over by any means but it does feel like we are running out of time and I don't know if we have what we need to turn it around now."

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between West Ham and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Steve: Thought West Ham frustrated Arsenal for most of the game and could even have won it. Great disappointment when the equaliser was disallowed but it was the correct decision. Arsenal almost there and fully deserve their position.

John: The writing was on the wall very early that West Ham would struggle to survive in the Premier League this season. We didn't start to put up a fight until late January and even then we lost crucial games when Forest and Leeds were fighting more than we were. Unfortunately we will have to take our medicine and do what we always do and bounce back from the Championship!

James: Resolute performance. Tactically we looked like we had the right shape for this game. It was always going to be tough for Taty, but he worked hard. I think we had the best chance of the game with Mateus Fernandes at 0-0 which could have provided a different result. I'll look forward to cheaper tickets next season in the Championship.

Samuel: Furious, absolutely furious. We played fantastically against the best defence in the division and nullified most of their attacks. But that moment at the end has cost us dear. It was never a foul on the keeper and the goal would have been deserved for our battling performance.

Arsenal fans

Sam: That was one of the most stressful matches we could have asked for but the end result is exactly what was needed. It was an ugly watch and at times we struggled to create much up against a resilient West Ham defence. Leandro Trossard came up with the vital moment but full credit to Martin Odegaard who was exceptional when he came on. The disallowed goal was the correct decision in the end, it's probably a little bit soft but it's still a clear foul on David Raya. Just two games away from the trophy now. We've never been in a better position than we are now and it's fully in our own hands.

Mark: Mikel Arteta will know he got away with one today. The decision to put Declan Rice at right back was a shocker - and it almost cost us dear as it meant that he had used up all his subs when we were trying to see the game out. Much as I dislike VAR, today it was used as it should be - to help the referee see something that he missed in real time - not one but two fouls on David Raya, without which he would have caught the ball.

Matthew: The biggest takeaway was Arsenal's maturity. In previous years, this is the kind of match they might have drawn. Instead, they stayed calm, found the breakthrough and managed the closing stages well, even surviving a late VAR scare.

Will: A nervy performance, we were fortunate to come away with three points. Bukayo Saka did not step up and did not give us a captain's performance. David Raya has shown how consistent he is in every game that he plays. We lost 25 minutes of play making without Declan Rice in the first half when Mikel Arteta moved him to right back. We need to do a lot better in our two remaining games.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has called for a rule change that would stop attacking players from entering the six-yard box before a corner.

Cann suggested the idea after Callum Wilson's late goal for West Ham against Arsenal on Sunday was disallowed because Hammers forward Pablo was judged to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya as the corner was sent into the penalty area.

"I feel the time has come now for a law change, whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before a corner is taken," Cann told BBC Match of the Day.

"At goal-kicks, forwards are not allowed in the penalty area; at corners, they shouldn't be allowed in the six-yard box until the ball is in play.

"Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play and then obviously the referee can't give a penalty or an indirect free kick if the ball is not in play, so this would create that natural separation and eradicate these kind of situations."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer

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West Ham United's late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday was correctly disallowed by the referee and VAR, says former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

Callum Wilson scored in stoppage time to salvage a point at London Stadium but referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his on-field decision after being sent to the monitor by VAR, judging that Hammers forward Pablo had fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as he attempted to collect a corner-kick.

"It's a clear foul I think," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"A lot of people say it probably should have stood and because it's controversial, Manchester City players, staff and fans are going to say it should have stood and then the Tottenham fans, staff and players saying it shouldn't have stood.

"But it's a clear foul, you can clearly see his [Pablo's] arm across his [Raya's] face, and it impacted him getting to the ball so, I think it's the right decision."

Arsenal's victory meant they went five points clear of City in the Premier League title race while West Ham stay in the relegation zone, a point behind Tottenham.

Rooney added: "It's the one time I actually think VAR's done a really good job in such an important game. I didn't think it was a hard decision – I think it was a simple decision and I get the importance of it but you can't take that into account, you've just got to take it for what it is and it's a foul."

Listen to more from this week's episode on BBC Sounds here

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham United could feasibly be relegated next Sunday - with a week of the Premier League season to go.

That would happen if Tottenham Hotspur beat Leeds United on Monday and the Hammers lose at Newcastle United next weekend.

Spurs, who are one point above the Hammers with a game in hand, will be safe if they win two of their final three games.

After playing Leeds, they face Chelsea away and then Everton at home on the final day.

West Ham, who host Leeds on the final day, will need to pick up at least two points more than Spurs because of a significantly inferior goal difference.

"We played well," said West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday's defeat by Arsenal.

"The character of the boys, the noise of the stadium. We knew the position that we are in and the boys gave it a proper fight.

"This is what we will try to do until the last minute of the season. Two games to go, it is our job to bounce back and fight and know that anything can still happen.

"Of course it is hard but we have been competing well, especially at London Stadium. The energy of the crowd was contagious for the boys. We're going to give it a go. This group of players will react."

• Read more analysis from Emlyn here

West Ham are set to contact referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) over their late equaliser being disallowed against Arsenal.

The Hammers had appeared to have dealt a significant blow to the Gunners' title hopes - as well as boosting their own Premier League survival prospects - when Callum Wilson struck in stoppage time on Sunday.

But after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was ruled out for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

West Ham will raise concerns and request further explanation from PGMO following the controversial decision.

BBC Sport understands they will also request the audio between referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England.

• Read more from Sami

Imagine being in Darren England's position as the VAR in Stockley Park.

The pressure on the official must have been huge. He cannot hear the Sky commentary, he has no idea what public opinion is.

In Sunday's critical encounter between West Ham and Arsenal he was presented with a decision that could decide the fate of two clubs.

You can't blame him for taking his time. He had to get this right.

England spent two minutes 41 seconds poring over every angle of the footage, checking the possible foul, the potential penalties.

We have seen pushing, shoving, grabbing and pulling on corners all season. Goalkeepers have been pressuring and harried too.

Is this different? Crucially, it was.

Arsenal have been the kings of it all season, crowding and surrounding goalkeepers at corners, finding ways to create space and score goals from set-pieces.

That they benefit from it in such a crucial way won't be lost on some.

But it is hard to argue that the Spain international was not impeded. Without the foul contact by Pablo, Raya would surely have had a simple catch.

Pablo had his arm across Raya and he was holding on to the goalkeeper's left arm too.

England checked the other possible fouls too, by Trossard on Pablo and Rice on Summerville.

Importantly, the first foul that had a direct impact on play was Pablo on Raya. You cannot give a penalty for a foul that may come after this.

England had to get that right - and he did.

Referee Chris Kavanagh spent one minute 15 seconds at the monitor. He too would have known the consequences of his final decision.

In total, four minutes 11 seconds potentially deciding the title and the final relegation place.

If it takes that long, can it really be clear and obvious? That is the wrong way to look at it. With such a huge, season-defining call, take as long as necessary to make sure you are getting it right.

England will have spent the final few minutes of the game wondering if he'd made the right call.

There are no communications inside the VAR room, no mobile phones, no way of gauging if you've done the right thing.

Imagine the relief when he walks out of the room and is told he's got it right, that Pablo has impacted Raya from playing the ball.

• Read more on the decision