“Yes, a lot of ways I could answer this question. We’re on the receiving end of it so were going to feel more hard done by. Football is a sport that brings enjoyment, brings fans together and gives big moments. We had our big moment then, we thought we’d got back into the game, [but you] look at something for five minutes, [you’re] trying to find something. Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players – there’s lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? Because that’s the only way that is the right way to do it. I get that you can’t wipe a goalkeeper out and there’s arms there but the keeper’s come out to try and grab the ball so he’s got to be seen – not as an outfield player – but he’s got to expect some contact. It’s a corner kick, it’s physical, it’s the Premier League – there’s going to be contact and tussles.
“We feel more hard done by but we had one at Brentford last week where [Tomas] Soucek got dragged down and we didn’t get a penalty. I’m saying at the consistency level – VAR is here to stay we know that – but I just think the decisions…People are going to say I sound bitter but I’m just being honest. If you look at some of the decisions for long enough you’ll find something to give and that’s what happened in the end.
“I can guarantee people, pundits, everyone that watches the game knows that this is a physical game and there’s holding every time. No one wants to see penalties given every single week or fouls against every single week. You want the game to be going on – that’s why everyone loves football for the fast-action fast-pace game. Goalkeepers do get a bit of different treatment but in the same breath there has to be some understanding that it was a corner – these days people like to put the corner on top of the goalkeeper and create that confusion and bite in the six-yard box. I’m not coming to sound bitter and blame different things – I’m just being honest.”
‘Where is the line?’
More from West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen on whether it was ironic that this incident was against Arsenal who play those types of corners? “They are the best example of being so good from set pieces – they’re physical and want to put the ball on top of the goalkeeper. I’m sure we could go back through every single game and see goalkeepers getting fouled and not getting decisions. If you’re going to give it, give it for every single thing every week.”
Is it a foul? “I think he has his arm on him I’m not going to come and be naive and stupid I do think he’s got his arm on him. But if the goalkeeper is coming to try and catch the cross we’re trying to affect that, we don’t want that. He’s coming out of his six-yard box he has to expect some contact because that’s the whole point. Where is the line? Where is the bar?
“We’ve lost the game. In a game where we had to be good in our shape, defend well, they get the goal but we kept in the game and had some other good big chances. Regardless of the decision, we have still lost the game and dropped a point. Two games left, it’s do or die. We showed good attitude today, went toe to toe with the Premier League leaders so we can’t feel defeated. We have to keep going and that’s all we can do.”
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