By Olaitan Ibrahim
Arsenal’s Premier League title chase suffered a crushing blow on Saturday as they slumped to a shocking 1-0 defeat against West Ham at the Emirates, leaving their championship dreams hanging by a thread.
With an opportunity to cut Liverpool’s lead to five points, the Gunners instead delivered a lacklustre performance, undone by wasteful finishing and a moment of brilliance from West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.
The warning signs were there early on when Tomas Soucek squandered a golden chance in the 19th minute, his header sailing harmlessly over the bar. But Arsenal failed to heed the danger, and just before half-time, they paid the price.
In the 44th minute, a pinpoint cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka found Bowen, who outjumped the Arsenal defence and powered a header past the helpless David Raya. Silence fell over the Emirates as the visitors celebrated a lead that would prove decisive.
The second half was a tale of frustration and missed opportunities for Mikel Arteta’s side. Ethan Nwaneri’s cross in the 64th minute failed to find a teammate, and Arsenal’s desperate search for an equaliser only led to more heartbreak.
Then came the game’s defining moment in the 73rd minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly, already on a yellow card, found himself at the centre of a VAR review. The decision was brutal – his caution was upgraded to a straight red card, leaving Arsenal down to ten men with the clock ticking against them.
Even with the numerical disadvantage, Arsenal pushed forward. A feeble free-kick from Raheem Sterling was blocked by the West Ham wall in the 85th minute, and Leandro Trossard’s last-gasp attempt in injury time flew harmlessly over the bar.
Arsenal’s night of frustration was sealed in the dying moments as Ben White missed a golden opportunity to salvage a point.
With the clock ticking deep into stoppage time, White found himself in acres of space inside the box after shaking off his marker. A precise pass found him perfectly positioned to level the score, but the defender failed to capitalise, dragging his effort just wide of the left post.
As the final whistle blew, West Ham celebrated a hard-fought victory, while Arsenal were left staring at the wreckage of what could have been.
With Liverpool now firmly in control at the top of the table, Arteta’s men must regroup quickly—or risk watching their title ambitions slip away.