Leandro Trossard's deflected goal and a dramatic late VAR decision propelled Arsenal one step closer to their first Premier League title in 22 years, as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium. The Gunners, far from their best under the weight of expectation, now sit five points clear of Manchester City at the summit with just two games remaining.
Dominant Start, Missed Chances
Arsenal began brightly, with Trossard heading narrowly wide from a corner before Riccardo Calafiori twice threatened. Konstantinos Mavropanos produced a crucial block to deny Calafiori's flicked header from Declan Rice's free-kick. West Ham grew into the half, forcing David Raya into a fine save from Taty Castellanos' diving header. An injury to Ben White forced Mikel Arteta into a series of tactical reshuffles, including the unusual substitution of substitute Martin Zubimendi, but the Hammers remained resolute.
Second-Half Drama
Mateus Fernandes should have broken the deadlock for West Ham, but Raya stood tall to save one-on-one. That save proved pivotal as Trossard's deflected effort—his first goal in 25 games—put Arsenal ahead. Callum Wilson thought he had equalised from a corner in stoppage time, but VAR intervened to rule it out for a foul by Pablo on Raya, sparking fury among the home fans. Arsenal held on to move within touching distance of the title.
Talking Points
1. Left-Side Dominance
The opening stages saw Arsenal's left flank, with Trossard and Calafiori combining effectively, causing West Ham constant problems. Calafiori's drifting movement created overloads, and he had three chances inside 20 minutes but failed to convert.
2. White Forced Off
Ben White limped off after a tackle with Crysencio Summerville midway through the first half. Arteta brought on Zubimendi and moved Declan Rice to right-back, a decision that left pundits baffled and coincided with a West Ham resurgence.
3. Arteta's Tactical Tweaks
Arteta's decision to shift Rice to right-back after White's injury was criticised. He rectified it at half-time, bringing on Cristian Mosquera for Calafiori, moving Myles Lewis-Skelly to left-back, and restoring Rice to midfield. However, the later substitution of Zubimendi for Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz raised further eyebrows.
4. Game of Chicken
As the match wore on, both sides faced a dilemma: risk going for the win or settle for a draw. Arsenal's nerves showed as they gave away needless free-kicks, but Raya's composure kept them in the game, highlighted by his crucial save from Fernandes.
5. VAR's Huge Call
Wilson's disallowed goal sparked chaos. Replays showed Raya was impeded by Pablo's arm, and after a lengthy review, the decision stood. West Ham were furious, but the correct call was made under immense pressure.
6. Table Tells the Story
Arsenal's performance was far from vintage, but the result is all that matters. They are five points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand but rely on Burnley or Crystal Palace to do them a favour. For West Ham, the defeat leaves them a point above the relegation zone ahead of a crucial clash with Leeds.
