Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes took a major hit as West Ham pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory at the Emirates, leaving the Gunners reeling in their first league defeat since November.
With an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Liverpool, Mikel Arteta’s men faltered, as Jarrod Bowen’s clinical header in the 44th minute proved to be the decisive blow. To make matters worse, Arsenal were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off after a VAR review for a challenge on Mohammed Kudus.
Despite introducing Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker in the absence of key attackers Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal struggled to break down a resilient West Ham defense.
Now trailing Liverpool by eight points, the Gunners face an uphill battle in the title race, especially with Jurgen Klopp’s men set to face Manchester City on Sunday. If Liverpool secures a win, they could extend their lead to a daunting 11 points, making Arsenal’s slip-up even more costly.
