It was the most extraordinary finale to an occasion when the tension seemed to override everything. The spectacle was suffocated. There was almost too much at stake for both teams. And then there we were, the players from each team standing on the sideline behind the referee, Chris Kavanagh, as he pored over the replay monitor on the advice of the video assistant, Darren England, his heart hammering, like that of everybody else inside the stadium.

Arsenal led 1-0 through Leandro Trossard’s 83rd minute goal, which had come shortly after David Raya had produced a massive one-on-one save to deny the West Ham midfielder, Mateus Fernandes. Now West Ham had their lifeline. Or had they? It all came down to Kavanagh’s interpretation of the moment when West Ham sent their goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, forward for an all-or-nothing 95th minute corner and, after a melee of bodies, the West Ham substitute, Callum Wilson, had lashed a shot over the line.

The problem for West Ham was that another substitute, Pablo, had gone up for the corner with an arm stretched out across Raya, who cried foul. Loudly. So did everyone connected to Arsenal, either here or watching from further afield. Kavanagh took an age over the decision and as he deliberated, it was no exaggeration to feel that the Premier League title was at stake. Perhaps, the final relegation place, too.

I forgot to say that Hermansen, the West Ham keeper, was also involved in the royal rumble that led to Wilson’s disallowed goal. You can make a case for about a dozen fouls – Pablo on Raya, Todibo on Raya, Rice on Mavropanos, Trossard on Pablo, Soucek on Havertz, entitlement on dignity – but it’s hard to dispute that Pablo impeded Raya.

“The sweetest words since Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream!” is how Ian Wright, in the Sky Sports studio, has described hearing the referee Chris Kavanagh use the phrase ‘After review…’

“As an Arsenal fan,” says Kári Tulinius, “I should feel deliriously happy but instead I feel wrung out like a sponge.”

Wait until Burnley make it three at the Emirates a week tomorrow.

“If I were an Arsenal fan – and the following email demonstrates that I’m not – I would be slightly sheepish about that,” says Felix Wood. “I’ve watched them absolutely rugby the flip out of set-pieces this season and VAR has been extremely reluctant to take a view on it, so to see the season decided on that leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. Clear and obvious? Debatable. Very Debatable.

“On the other hand there were some debatable, very debatable, calls in the city game yesterday so maybe we should all accept VAR doesn’t make anything better and ignore it and focus on the football.”

With that, good luck.

Today’s Premier League results

• Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa

• Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

• Nottm Forest 1-1 Newcastle

• West Ham 0-1 Arsenal

Leandro Trossard is an also-ran in the race for the golden boot. But his sixth Premier League goal of the season could be the most important of the lot.

Declan Rice was right: it wasn’t over. Arsenal need to win two games, two measly football matches, to become champions for the first time in 22 years.

• Burnley (H) Mon 18 May

• Crystal Palace (A) Sun 24 May

This is what it does to the Premier League table

Arsenal have picked a great time to get back in touch with an old friend. That’s three one-nil-to-the-Arsenals in their last five games, the same as they managed in the 30 matches before that. The last two, against Atletico Madrid and West Ham, have moved them to the brink of unprecedented glory.

The West Ham players surround the referee Chris Kavanagh, still fuming about Callum Wilson’s equaliser that wasn’t. They contributed fully to a pulsating finale and would have gone ahead in the 78th minute had David Raya not made an epic save from Mateus Fernandes.

Leandro Trossard’s deflected shot whistled into the net three minutes later, and Arsenal survived a monumental scare when Callum Wilson walloped what looked like an equaliser in the fifth minute of added time.

After a VAR check that was officially timed at 12 years, 10 months, the goal was ruled out for a pointless foul by Pablo on Raya.

90+10 min There’s also an argument that Todibo was pulling Raya’s shirt. Never mind that because the match has resumed and nobody has a clue how long is left.

90+9 min Chris Kavanagh is still looking at the replay. I think it’s a foul, in truth, but whether it’s a clear and obvious error… no idea.

90+7 min Darren England is the poor bugger tasked with making the decision.

90+6 min: The VAR check is ongoing. You can argue it either way. Pablo had his arm across Raya, and Gary Neville on Sky Sports think it was a foul.

The corner was spilled by Raya, under potentially illegal pressure from Pablo, and bounced off Saliba at the far post. Wilson blasted the loose ball savagely into the net from 10 yards.

90+3 min Bowen’s cross is excellently cut out at source by Lewis-Skelly. If any team knows how to protect a 1-0 lead, it’s this lot.

90+2 min Raya’s save from Fernandes gets better every time you see it. It would have been so easy, especially at such a vital moment, to fall for it when Fernandes shaped to shoot across goal.

90+1 min Trossard is booked for delaying a West Ham free-kick. The hell he’ll care!

90 min There will be six minutes of added time.

90 min Mavropanos allows Arsenal to waste 30 seconds with a needless foul on Gyokeres. West Ham’s heads have gone.

89 min Saliba is booked for fouling somebody on the halfway line. West Ham are running out of time to equalise.

88 min A member of the West Ham coaching staff has been sent off by Chris Kavanagh, presumably for inappropriate use of the mouth.

86 min There’s a bit of a row between Madueke and Pablo, who wasn’t happy when Madueke deliberately kicked the ball at a West Ham player with a view to it ricocheting out for an Arsenal throw-in. Not sure why – don’t players do that all the time?

Moments later, Todibo, who has form for loss of noggin, growls in the direction of Gyokeres.

85 min: West Ham substitution Axel Disasi is replaced by Callum Wilson.

Myles Lewis-Skelly ushers the ball out for a goalkick and roars with delight.

Arsenal could so easily have gone a goal down. Now, three minutes later, they’re in front! Odegaard, so good in tight spaces, combined neatly with Rice on the edge of the area and pushed the ball back to Trossard. His first-time shot from 15 yards took a deflection off the lunging Soucek and zipped past Hermansen at the near post.

81 min Replays confirm that, whether Fernandes should have scored or not, it was a sesnsational save by Raya. Fernandes tried to give him the eyes and sweep the ball past him at the near post; Raya threw out his right leg and saved it with his thigh.

80 min: Arsenal substitution Mosquera is booked for a foul. Noni Madueke comes on for Bukayo Saka.

77 min Saka, who has had a very quiet game so far, is booked for a foul on Summerville.

76 min “This is just torture for Arsenal fans – the equivalent of the medieval rack,” says Charles Antaki. Every minute is another ratchet up, and even the substitutions put a bit more strain on the system. Something may crack, but not in a happy way.”

I say!

75 min Bowen gets to the byline and spanks a rising cross/shot – not sure which – that is pushed over the crossbar by Raya. After a spell of Arsenal dominance, West Ham are starting to carry a threat on the break.

74 min In case you’ve been at a digital retreat in the Kerguelen Islands for the last fortnight, Arsenal need to win to keep the title exclusively in their hands. A draw means both teams can control their own destiny by winning their remaining games 15-0. And a defeat would put the title back in City’s hands alone.

The relegation picture is more complicated, so don’t start.

73 min Saka’s flat cross is headed over at the far post by Gyokeres. A tough chance, 10 yards out and under pressure from Todibo, but a chance of sorts.

71 min Bowen does superbly to hold onto the ball, wait for support and then release Diouf on the left. He curls an excellent cross towards Pablo, forcing Rice to get in front and concede a corner. Superb defending from Rice.

68 min Todibo shoves Gyokeres over from behind and is booked. The free-kick is about 30 yards from goal on the left wing, so the big men are coming forward.

68 min These are the revised line-ups.

West Ham (5-2-2-1) Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf; Soucek, Fernandes; Bowen, Summerville; Pablo.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

68 min: Double substitution for Arsenal Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz come on for Eberechi Eze and the first-half substitute Martin Zubimendi.

67 min This video is dedicated to fans of West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester City, the England cricket team…

66 min: West Ham substitution Pablo replaces Taty Castellanos, who impressed once again for West Ham.

65 min Fernandes fires a sharp pass into Bowen, who hits a speculative right-foot shot from 20 yards that is blocked by Saliba (I think).

65 min “On a sunny spring afternoon, it scratches the itch in an overactive brain to notice that the strips are (almost) the complete opposite of each other – claret, white, white versus white, claret, claret (sort of),” writes Paul McGrory. “I’m sure such an orderly vision will soothe the angst of either Mr Arteta or Santo if this game doesn’t go their way.”

64 min The free-kick is tossed deep, headed back across… and then the referee blows for a foul to West Ham.

63 min Rice is fouled 25 yards from goal by Fernandes. Arsenal have been a lot better in the last five minutes – it feels like, if not a goal, then at least a big chance is in the post.

62 min “Anyone have a clue why Arsenal are playing this game like they are three goals up?” writes Colin Livingstone. “Slow, zero urgency, passing it round the back – it is baffling.”

I guess the plan is to pass West Ham to sleep. The level of defensive concentration required by West Ham has to take some toll in the last half an hour.

61 min “On the one hand, I’d be quite happy for the season to end right now,” chirps Matt Dony. “On the other, I’m torn. There’s just so much potential for hilarity. I have nothing specific against Arsenal, and I have a lot of sympathy for the decent Arsenal fans over the last few seasons. But it would be objectively funny if they threw this away.

“At the same time, it would be entertaining to see Pep fall agonisingly short in potentially his last season at City. Tottenham have traditionally been a likeable club, but you can’t tell me it wouldn’t be laughable if they went down. Unfortunately, West Ham going back to the yo-yo years is also top scran. I don’t know who I want to win! But in a way, aren’t we all winners?”

In what way would that be?

60 min Rice’s corner is headed away in the six-yard box. Not sure who was responsible but it was a fine defensive header.

59 min Trossard tries to put Saka through on goal with a nice pass. Diouf tracks Saka’s run and slices the ball behind for – cue the Jaws music – an Arsenal corner.

58 min A better move from Arsenal ends with Saka driving over from 22 yards.

56 min Zubimendi overhits a simple pass out to Eze, a symbol of Arsenal’s sloppy performance since half-time.

55 min And this is how the bottom of the table will look should West Ham draw the game.

54 min If the match is drawn, Arsenal will be three points and one goal ahead of Manchester City having played a game more. It’s Spandex-tight, and not in a good way.

53 min “Given what’s at stake for these two sides,” begins Peter Oh, “watching this as a fan with skin in the game must be – in Pep Guardiola’s words – so tough, so tough.”

52 min Saka wafts high and wide from distance.

51 min It’s been a bitty start to the second half, which probably suits West Ham more than Arsenal.

49 min Bowen slips a good pass into the area for Castellanos, whose mishit shot on the run is blocked. The ball rebounds to Bowen, whose daisy-cutter from 25 yards is comfortably saved by Raya.

47 min These are the revised line-ups.

West Ham (5-2-2-1) Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf; Soucek, Fernandes; Bowen, Summerville; Castellanos.

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Pablo, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Havertz, Dowman.

46 min West Ham get the second half under way. It’s a biggie.

Half-time substitution Cristhian Mosquera is coming on for Riccardo Calafiori, which means Declan Rice will move back into midfield. Myles Lewis-Skelly goes to left-back.

Half-time reading

45+2 min Three minutes of added time. Arsenal look a bit rattled; they haven’t been happy with a few of the challenges – Disasi on Gyokeres, Soucek on Lewis-Skelly and Whoeveritwas on Calafiori.

45+1 min The corner is half cleared and knocked back into the box before bouncing through to Raya. Todibo almost had a chance to turn it goalwards from close range but couldn’t sort his feet out.

43 min Nine of Arsenal’s ten attempts at goal were in the first 22 minutes. The half-time break will come at a good time for them.

40 min West Ham have done well to restore order after a very difficult start to the game. They’ve defended really well in open play, with only one chance for Calafiori, but set-pieces have been a problem.

38 min Summerville is booked for a late challenge on Gabriel, who got to a loose ball first and was clattered a split-second later.

36 min Summerville turns Lewis-Skelly beautifully and sets off on an enterprising run to the edge of the area. Eventually he loses his balance and shoots wide of the far post.

36 min Eze takes a few deep breaths, strides forward… and throttles a poor free-kick into the wall.

35 min The free-kick is fractionally to the right of centre. Rice and Eze are over it…

34 min Zubimendi is fouled 25 yards from goal by Castellanos, who is less then thrilled with the decision and even more aggrieved when a yellow card is wafted in his direction.

33 min West Ham have been better either side of White’s injury, though Arsenal remain the dominant team. The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes.

31 min I wouldn’t have put Declan Rice at right-back, not even on Championship Manager, but I can understand Mikel Arteta’s logic. Arsenal are going to have a lot of the ball in a game they are desperate to win, and this way they get an extra attacking influence on the pitch. Cristhian Mosquera is fairly limited going forward, certainly in comparison to Ben White and Jurrien Timber.

30 min Diouf charges down the left, away from Rice, but then overhits a crossfield pass to Wan-Bissaka.

28 min: Arsenal substitution Martin Zubimendi replaces Ben White, who is being helped down the touchline in a manner that suggests he might be struggling to make the Champions League final.

Declan Rice has gone to right-back, a pretty big surprise given his influence in midfield. Maybe Arsenal want his delivery from wide areas.

27 min A deflected cross from Bowen almost falls perfectly for Diouf in the area. Almost but not quite; the ball runs through to David Raya.

26 min Arsenal are preparing Martin Zubimendi as Ben White’s replacement. That’s a surprise given they have Cristhian Mosquera is on the bench.

26 min White is struggling and may need to come off. Gary Neville, commentating on Sky, says he would have been less susceptible to injury had he made a firmer challenge rather than dangling a leg. I never played right-back so I’ve got nothing to say.

24 min Ben White needs treatment after hurting himself in a block tackle with Summerville.

20 min More of the same. Arsenal have been excellent, not just with the ball but also by stopping any significant West Ham counter-attacks.

16 min A stinging long-range shot from Eze is well blocked by Bowen.

This is looking ominous for West Ham, and Manchester City. Arsenal are completely dominating the game.

13 min West Ham are really struggling to get out. A superb, mostly one-touch move from Arsenal ends with Calafiori shooting fractionally wide from the edge of the D. That was an excellent effort, and Arsenal’s seventh attempt at goal already.

11 min Saka’s corner is headed over by Gabriel.

8 min The game is starting to settle into the expected pattern: patient Arsenal possession interwoven with urgent West Ham counter-attacking.

5 min After a patient move from Arsenal, Saka thrashes a cross-shot that is comfortably held by Hermansen.

4 min Declan Rice is being booed every time he touches the ball. Is that news?

3 min Some good early possession for West Ham, who have started with Bowen and Summerville as two No10s rather than orthodox wingers.

1 min Arsenal, in their cream change strip, kick off from right to left as we watch.

There’s a cracking atmosphere at the London Stadium. Alas, no sign of Danny Dyer yet. The players look ready for action; they jolly well need to be. This is huge.

A quick reminder of the teams

West Ham (5-2-2-1) Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf; Soucek, Fernandes; Bowen, Summerville; Castellanos.

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Pablo, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

Arsenal (4-3-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Havertz, Zubimendi, Dowman.

Referee Chris Kavanagh.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s pre-match thoughts

It’s a hugely important game for us. We are at home – the London Stadium has been good for us – and we need to compete with a very good opponent.

The fans have been huge for us. They know that we need their energy and their noise.

[On switching to a back five] Arsenal have a lot of threats so we have to be focussed. Also, the players on the bench are gonna be very important for us. Let’s go.

Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts

[On his 500th game at Arsenal: 150 as a player, 350 as a manager] It’s been a long time now! Very proud of that, and we know what is at stake. We know the magnitude of the game – and how much we want it.

[Is today a day for fire or ice?] Warm hearts, cool heads. We need to be emotionally stable and we want to dominate, as we’ve been doing.

[On naming an unchanged side for the first game in a row] We’ve found a lot of fluidity and a lot of threat. We also have the option to change the approach if we need to.

We knew they might [switch to a back five]. Nuno has played so many years with that formation so it’s not a surprise.

A long row of team photos line the corridor that leads from the players’ entrance at the Emirates Stadium to the media area, each taken at the beginning of a new season and featuring any trophies won in the previous campaign. Updated every year, it currently dates back to 2002 when Arsène Wenger masterminded the Premier League and FA Cup double that saw Arsenal come from behind to see off Manchester United in the title race, with the photo of the famous Invincibles proudly on display the next but one along.

That represents the last time they were crowned champions – 22 years ago, the longest Arsenal have gone without winning a league title since they claimed their first of 13 in 1931, when Herbert Chapman was at the helm. Walk a bit further and you will see several more FA Cups, including the victory in Mikel Arteta’s first season after he took over from Unai Emery in December 2019, before the silverware on show abruptly ends. But after three successive runners-up finishes, Arsenal suddenly find themselves within touching distance of winning back the trophy they covet more than any other.

When David Sullivan was pressed on why West Ham bothered to move to the London Stadium, the lack of substance to his argument offered a window into the club’s dysfunction. “I just think we feel like a big club,” Sullivan said in an interview with the Guardian in December 2017. “Not a tinpot club. When players come to look at West Ham, they look at where you play.”

Look deeper, though. Analysing the club chair’s answer nine years on, the conclusion is that this is an owner whose desire to win is cancelled out by his listlessness. Feeling like a big club, after all, is not the same as being a big club.

It was a soundbite designed to go viral, the kind the ex-pros in the TV studios are always looking to confect; snappy, heavy on hyperbole, bang in the moment. Thierry Henry made it pop on Tuesday night as he interviewed Bukayo Saka on CBS Sports after Arsenal had beaten Atlético Madrid to advance to the Champions League final. “We were the Invincibles. You will be the Unforgettables,” Henry said.

There it was, as laid out by one of the greats, the goalscoring hero of Arsenal’s unbeaten bolt to the 2004 Premier League title, the last one they won.

Saka, who scored the winner in the second leg at a delirious Emirates Stadium, and his teammates can see the path to glory. Actually, it is more than that. It would be immortality. Because if they can hold off Manchester City to win the league and add the Champions League in Budapest on 30 May, it would top anything any group of Arsenal players has achieved.