An arm extended, and one hand on the title.

Arsenal are now two victories from ending a 22-year wait , which was about what referee Chris Kavanagh ’s survey of Pablo’s foul on David Raya felt like.

A crucial 1-0 was only stopped from becoming a costly 1-1, in the 94th minute, by one man’s interpretation of “wrestling” – as Nuno Espirito Santo put it – at a set-piece.

Even Mikel Arteta , who knows a thing or two about the subject from this season alone, was marvelling at the “huge” pressure on Kavanagh.

A VAR decision denied West Ham a point with David Raya deemed to have been fouled (Getty)

“Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big is the referee's job,” the Arsenal manager said.…