Arsenal squandered the prospect to shut the hole on Premier League leaders Liverpool as they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at residence to West Ham.
A Jarrod Bowen header on the stroke of half-time proved to be the distinction on a irritating afternoon for Mikel Arteta’s aspect, who ended the sport with ten males after substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was despatched off.
The consequence means the Gunners missed the chance to chop Liverpool’s result in 5 factors and make floor on this season’s title race.
For West Ham, nevertheless, the win might be a great addition for brand spanking new boss Graham Potter, who has struggled to vary the Hammers’ fortunes since taking up in early January.
Leaving north London with three factors 😃 pic.twitter.com/aoGqgJvAwZ
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 22, 2025
How the motion unfolded
The Gunners started the all-London affair brightly however failed to chop by way of a stern Hammers defence.
Frustration seemed to be creeping in as Arteta’s aspect struggled to interrupt the impasse. Mikel Merino couldn’t flip Thomas Partey’s ball goalbound whereas Martin Odegaard blasted over from the sting of the field.
The guests steadily grew into the sport and had possibilities of their very own when Tomas Soucek twice didn’t get his header on the right track.
Then, on 44-minutes, West Ham silenced the house crowd after Bowen met Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross from the appropriate and buried the ball into the online with a diving header.
Jarrod Bowen’s strike towards Arsenal means he now has 50 Premier League targets.
He’s the second West Ham participant to hit the milestone, behind solely Michail Antonio (68) 👏 pic.twitter.com/6WnKFyPqEf
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) February 22, 2025
The sport opened up after the break, with Bowen going near doubling the customer’s benefit.
It was shaping as much as be a day of missed alternatives for Arsenal, and their frustration was compounded when substitute Lewis-Skelly was dismissed after hauling down Mohammed Kudus on 73-minutes.
The teenage defender was initially proven a yellow card however the choice was upgraded to a pink after a VAR examine.
Regardless of the numerical drawback, Arsenal surged ahead looking for an equaliser. However Potter’s aspect held agency to file a well-known away victory.
Because the minutes ticked down, and the Gunners threw our bodies up subject, Arteta lower an more and more despondent determine on the touchline, realizing {that a} important alternative within the title race had gone begging.