Arsenal's Premier League Title Aspirations Derailed by Surprising Home Loss to West Ham
Arsenal's title hopes take a hit as they suffer a shocking 2-0 home defeat against West Ham, missing out on the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League
Arsenal's hopes of reclaiming the top spot in the Premier League were dashed after they were unexpectedly defeated 2-0 at home by West Ham on Thursday. Tomáš SouÄek's goal in the first half gave the visitors the lead, and former defender Konstantinos Mavropanos sealed West Ham's victory with a goal from a corner in the second half, adding to Arsenal's misery.
Arsenal could have suffered an even bigger defeat, but David Raya's stoppage-time save prevented Said Benrahma from scoring on a penalty. As usual, VAR once again sparked controversy, adding to the ongoing debate surrounding the technology this season.
Upon review of the play leading up to SouÄek's opening goal, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to disallow the goal, despite Arsenal's claim that the ball had gone out of play as Jarrod Bowen passed it to his teammate. In contrast to a previous incident earlier this season that resulted in a Newcastle goal, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responded to the decision in a more composed manner.
"I havent seen it, the only thing they are saying is that its not conclusive the images that they have," he told reporters, per Arsenal.
Players surround referee Michael Oliver during the VAR check.
Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
"Unfortunately, despite our advanced technology, it's not always clear whether the ball was in or out. It's a done deal now, and we can't change it."
"Arteta's primary concern must be the wastefulness of his team against West Ham."
Arsenal controlled most of the match, holding 74% possession and taking 30 shots compared to West Hams six. Despite this, the Hammers managed to score two goals from just three shots on target.
Notably, Arsenal had 77 touches in West Hams penalty area, setting a record for the most touches in a single Premier League match for a team that did not score, as reported by Opta.
"This is football," Arteta commented. "We assess our performance in the game and the amount of opportunities we created, so it's very disheartening to see the outcome. However, they outperformed us in both penalty areas.
"In football, we must excel in those areas to secure a victory, and today we didn't achieve that. Nevertheless, the team persevered and showed an incredible attitude once more."
"If we fail to score in 30 shots, we have to make 50 or 60 attempts in order to score. I cannot envision a game where we had more control, more opportunities in the opposing team's penalty area, and fewer chances for the opponents against a very strong West Ham team. However, our efforts were not enough to secure a victory."
Arsenal's inability to convert scoring opportunities once again emphasizes the need for a clinical striker, but Arteta expressed satisfaction with the squad of players available to him.
Mavropanos' header sealed West Ham's victory.
Arteta expressed his love for the current players, emphasizing the need to focus on improving their performance through better training and increased confidence.
Arsenal's loss was a positive outcome for Liverpool, who remains at the top of the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Manchester City close behind. West Ham manager David Moyes is also doing an excellent job, with the team now in sixth place and just four points away from the Champions League positions, while also performing well in the Europa League.
In Thursdays other Premier League, Brighton & Hove Albion delivered an impressive performance to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling match.
