Halsey dubbed calling the VAR intervention correct despite the enormous pressure on officials with the Premier League title at stake.
Arsenal held on for a 1-0 victory at the London Stadium on Sunday through Leandro Trossard's first-half goal, with Wilson's header crossing the line in stoppage time only for referee Chris Kavanagh to chalk it off following a 4 minutes and 17 seconds VAR review. Kavanagh was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR official Darren England and ruled West Ham midfielder Pablo had fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya before the ball came in. A pull on Raya's shirt by defender Jean-Clair Todibo was also identified as a secondary infringement.
Halsey, writing for The Sun, was unequivocal about the outcome.
"We've had a massive problem this season — and inconsistencies — from the officials when we're seeing holding and grappling offences in the penalty area. Something has to happen, we've got to stop this."
He walked through the specific contact that led to the decision.
"You can clearly see that Pablo has impeded David Raya. Not only that, you can see that Jean-Clair Todibo has got hold of Raya's shirt and is pulling it down. It's very difficult for Chris Kavanagh in real time to see that, but that's what VAR is there for."
He acknowledged the scale of the moment.
"There was massive, massive pressure on Chris Kavanagh once he'd been called over to the monitor. In my opinion, they came to the correct decision. There were two fouls in there. It was a massive, massive decision to make with what was at stake. So in my opinion, they've come to the right decision."
Halsey also called for wider change.
"For me, the PGMOL and their officials — we've got to clamp down harder on all this grappling."
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, described the decision as "the biggest moment in VAR history."
West Ham United head coach Nuno Espírito Santo was furious with the officials. Arsenal move five points clear of Manchester City with three games remaining. City have a game in hand.