Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

A foul - or in this case a penalty - can only be awarded if the ball is in play.

If the offence happens before the corner is kicked then the referee can't give a foul, they can only take disciplinary action - in this case a yellow card to Marc Cucurella.

The VAR will then check to make sure the ball has not been kicked while there is foul contact. If the attacker has already been pulled down there is no route for the VAR to initiate a review.

But two weeks ago, Everton were wrongly denied a penalty against Manchester City when Merlin Rohl was dragged the the floor by Bernardo Silva.

The VAR decided the holding had stopped before a corner was taken, but the Premier League's key match incidents panel ruled that to be incorrect

The fine margins that may yet condemn Tottenham Hotspur to the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history could be measured in seconds at Stamford Bridge.

Richarlison had given Roberto de Zerbi's disappointing side hope, after Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos gave the hosts a deserved two-goal advantage, when Chelsea's combative left-back Marc Cucurella unceremoniously dragged Spurs defender Micky van de Ven to the floor.

It came as Mathys Tel prepared to take a corner and Spurs demanded a penalty that never came, their disbelief doubled when Cucurella was cautioned over the incident.

Video assistant referee (VAR) checks detected his foul came seconds, maybe even one second, before the ball came into play, meaning a penalty could not be awarded.

Referee Stuart Attwell could only take action against Cucurella with a yellow card, and once VAR confirmed the ball had not been kicked there was no room to initiate a review and subsequent spot-kick.

Former Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports: "One second difference and it is a guaranteed penalty. Cucurella is so lucky."

It was the tightest of calls.

Image source, Getty Images

While BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty believes they didn't produce enough, Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi believes his side "showed what is needed to win a game" on Tuesday, despite falling to a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea.

He added, if the team play at a similar level against Everton on Sunday, that they "can achieve the target".

You can hear his full post-match interview below.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Tottenham's incentive could not have been greater as they travelled to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Premier League survival was in their own hands.

They faced a Chelsea side whose form had been indifferent, and who had just suffered the disappointment of losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Spurs started brightly, but once Chelsea went ahead through Enzo Fernandez there was a lack of urgency until it was too late, namely after Andrey Santos had put them two goals in arrears.

Santos' goal came just as head coach Roberto de Zerbi was about to make three substitutions, including James Maddison, who led lengthy Spurs protests to referee Stuart Attwell at the final whistle.

The point of contention was that penalty incident when Marc Cucurella clearly dragged Micky van de Ven to the floor, but the ruling was that the ball was not yet in play - a decision that infuriated Spurs.

In reality, despite a late flurry, Spurs did not produce enough creation or threat when the stakes were so high.

Now it all rides on Sunday's meeting with Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - with Spurs' top-flight status hanging in the balance.

Spurs know a point will almost certainly be enough to keep them in the Premier League, but nerves will be jangling after such poor form at home this season.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham's fight to avoid relegation will go to the final day of the season following their defeat at Chelsea.

Spurs know a point against Everton at home on Sunday would be enough to stay up - barring an unrealistic goal difference swing in West Ham's favour.

From title parades to... survival parades?

While there are and will continue to be celebrations from supporters on one side of north London, there remains a real fear and anxiety for those on the other.

Tottenham Hotspur's defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday evening means their fight for survival will go down to the final day on Sunday.

Should Spurs lose and West Ham United pick up three points - reigning Europa League champions Tottenham will be playing in the Championship in 2026-27.

Arsenal

Bring on the victory parade indeed.

Arsenal have confirmed the date and time, with the full details to follow in due course.

"We are delighted to announce that we will come together with our supporters and community for a special parade around our home borough of Islington, starting from 2pm on Sunday 31 May, to celebrate our title," reads a statement on the Arsenal website.

"This follows our Uefa Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday 30 May, at 5pm (UK time). Should we be successful in this game, our parade will also celebrate this historic triumph.

"This will be a major public event, and we anticipate large numbers of supporters will turn out in the local area.

"We hope you are able to join our celebrations on the day."

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Fireworks are great and all, but they are not for everyone - especially those Arsenal supporters with four legs...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may well have enjoyed the celebrations outside Emirates Stadium last night.

He asked for fire...and got fireworks.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta clearly has a thing about fire.

Just last month, with his team on a poor run of form that briefly threatened to scupper their title quest, he asked his players to metaphorically throw their negative thoughts into a fire that had been lit at the club's training ground.

In the longer term, Arteta has shown his penchant for hosting barbecues for his players, staff and their families at the club's London Colney headquarters - showing the importance he places on nurturing bonds.

And the fire continues to burn - with the title won, the Gunners will now target Champions League glory when they face Paris St-Germain on 30 May.

Victory in Budapest and this Arsenal team can call themselves the greatest ever in the club's history.

This isn't necessarily a story of a single all-conquering season, but rather the culmination of a meticulously plotted six-year project.

"Trust the process," said Arteta in June 2020. In the fullness of time, he was right.

Arteta is the red arrow - the force of nature who has steered and shaped the team into one of the most impressive in European football.

He and sporting director Andrea Berta will deservedly be praised for getting Arsenal over the line this season. But, in truth, success has been built over multiple years.

A lot of the scenes from last night were reminiscent of the film Fever Pitch, when one of the key characters in that movie found herself on the streets of north London, mobbed by Arsenal fans celebrating their victory over Liverpool in the 1989 title race.

The nature of Tuesday night's events - with Manchester City unexpectedly dropping points at Bournemouth - must have led to impromptu celebrations breaking out in similar fashion.

We want to know more about those.

Click on the 'Get Involved' button and tell us: how did you party, where did you party and with whom?

Image source, Getty Images

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the Gunners' title win: "It's lovely. A long time coming. The last few times I have been to the Emirates, walking into the ground, the fans have been everywhere. The semi-final of the Champions League, there were flares and it just had an edgy excited feel to it.

"It is the first time the Emirates Stadium has felt that. All the previous wins and titles were at Highbury. It's like a new era of getting to this level and to finally do it and get it over the line is great for this football club. There's nothing like success on the field that makes you feel at home.

"The supporters have been edgy, I was there when they lost against Manchester United in January and it was really edgy - I could sense the angst in the crowd.

"They've overcome that through March and April and I think the foundation that the team has had has got them through that sticky point where it could have gone the other way.

"Perseverance has paid off."

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

When Newcastle won a trophy for the first time in, well, forever, we inadvertently kicked off a movement of fans on here eager to send us pictures of their pets in Newcastle kits.

Today it seems to be Gunners fans - potentially worse for wear - proudly sporting club gear on their way into work.