Arsenal failed to accumulate the pressure of the Premier League Liverpool title on Saturday, as they were hit 1-0 by London Foes West Ham United at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal knew that they could close the gap in the leaders of the Liverpool championship in just five points with the victory, but they were back on the break. Jarrod Bowen’s header surprised the faithful of the house after some amazing lethargic defense from the strict backline of the department.
Gunners were unable to find an equalizer after the semi-years whistle, as the injuries that set them up made them ineffective in the last third, with Myles Lewis-Skelly also sent during a miserable afternoon for Mikel Arteta and the team of.
How did the game unfold
After his heroine from the bench against Leicester City last weekendOrthodox midfielder Mikel Merino was chosen to drive the Arsenal Line against hammers. However, with a multitude of aggressive injuries that limit their choices in the last third, the hosts appeared unexpectedly bluntly in the early stages with some tempting intersections they could gather.
West Ham Occasionally he offered a look at their offensive threat of counterattack, but did not do enough to force David Raya to act during the first half hour. Bowen shot from a promising corner and Tomas Soucek produced an unusual heading after finding a penalty area.
But one of the West Ham invasions forward finally paid dividends at the end of the half. Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke down the right side and threw a pleasant cross into the six-back box, with Gabriel and William Saliba anywhere considered Bowen headed closely.
West Ham was impressed in their own defensive third throughout the first half and was similarly after the re -launch. Their compact follower knew that he was capable of disappointing the hosts affected by injuries, who showed a few signs that they were able to draw a persistent low block.
Arsenal’s hopes for a return evaporated in the 72nd minute, as the substitute Lewis-Skelly received his orders. The left back, who was unjustly sent to Molineux earlier this term, was recorded after pulling Mohammed Kudus in half line, but his yellow card was upgraded in red.
The dismissal of Lewis-Skelly pulled the sting out of the procedures for the Gunners, who rushed to a frustrating and frustrating defeat at home. They could complete 11 points behind Liverpool’s top dogs if the Reds beat Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Check the player’s ratings for Arsenal 0-1 West Ham here.
With Liverpool’s title opponents who fell to Villa Park on Wednesday before clashes with Man City and Newcastle United on Saturday felt the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to put serious pressure on their offering for the first place.
The victory would have seen them close the gap in five points before Liverpool’s trip to Etihad Stadium on Sunday, forcing doubts to drag into the mind of Arne Slot’s team. However, their lukewarm defeat on the hammers will only push the reds in front of their meeting with the Premier League champions.
Aggressive injuries have always been likely to make Arsenal’s life difficult, but the multitude of Emirates would expect more than their team, who had no rhythm and consistency throughout. Some defense has allowed the irons in front and the host rarely threatened Alphonse Areola’s goal.
After all, this may be the day that Arsenal resigned from another title race.
Arsenal had few options, but to achieve a non -persuasive line forward, with Merino starting between Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri in wide positions. The Spanish support at King Power Stadium won his place in the original XI, but the summer signature was not able to produce the same production in the Emirates – rather unexpectedly, it must be said.
Trossard was alive in launches, but struggled to find any coherent place in the penalty area. Similarly, Nwaneri, who was excellent last weekend, failed to play with his usual swagger in and around the box. The fact that Raheem Sterling started on the bench speaks volumes about his sad loan with the Gunners.
Arsenal’s failure to reinforce their offensive unit over the winter window looks more silly with every week, as injuries stop their title charge and Arteta will be understandably disappointed by those in the meeting room that do not loosen their strings Wallet.
There have been obvious signs of improvement for West Ham since the arrival of Graham Potter, even if the results have not necessarily followed. But Saturday was the culmination of this hard work on the ground, as the irons took full advantage of their hosts.
The decision to abandon both Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson on the bench is justified by the intensity and speed of Bowen and Kudus, both of which usually caused Arsenal’s stern on all problems. Nor is they of course center-forwards, but they made a huge and decisive effect-Bowen scoring the winner and kudus to get Lewis-Skelly sent away.
Defensively, West Ham was remarkably determined. Arsenal may be missing from a number of aggressive stars, but it takes nothing away from the organization and stiffness of their visitors. They close any gaps, as the aid of the middle field helped a three back, with both wide dazzling.
They came to the Emirates with a play plan and executed it in perfection
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2025-02-22 20:20:00
