Toothless Arsenal dealt major blow
Arsenal 0 - 2 West Ham United
Arsenal missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, as West Ham ended their four-game winless streak with a superb win at the Emirates.
Jarrod Bowen struck the decisive goal against a lacklustre Gunners side, who later saw youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off.
A win would have put Arsenal within five points of Arne Slot’s Liverpool, ahead of their trip to Manchester City on Sunday. But Mikel Arteta’s side never found their rhythm, struggling to break down a resilient West Ham defence while also conceding the better chances over the 90 minutes.
Bowen’s goal, his 50th in the Premier League, came late in the first half as he started and finished the move himself. After picking up a loose ball on the edge of his own area, he fed Aaron Wan-Bissaka and then continued his run, stooping low to head home the full-back’s cross.
It was the first time this season that Arsenal had gone behind at half-time in a home league match, but their response after the break was underwhelming. Despite enjoying long spells of possession, they rarely troubled Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal.
Leandro Trossard had one of Arsenal’s few clear-cut chances, forcing a save with a low effort, but their hopes of a comeback took a severe hit when Lewis-Skelly was shown a red card for hauling down Mohammed Kudus near the halfway line. Initially booked by Craig Pawson, the teenager’s punishment was upgraded after a VAR review deemed he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
West Ham held firm in the closing stages, securing a win that lifts them 13 points clear of the relegation zone and level on points with Manchester United in 15th, though they remain 16th due to goal difference.
Premier League: 2024/2025 season
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Arsenal’s lack of cutting edge laid bare
Mikel Arteta shuffled his attack, handing Mikel Merino a start after his impressive double off the bench against Leicester. Lining up alongside Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri, the Spain international was bright early on but struggled to capitalise on openings, sending one effort over the bar from a tight angle.
The best chance of the first half for Arsenal fell to Riccardo Calafiori, whose powerful drive was beaten away by Areola. But while the hosts toiled, Bowen delivered the kind of clinical finish they were missing.
Tension was already creeping into the Emirates crowd before Bowen’s goal, and the frustration only grew after the interval as Arsenal failed to carve out meaningful opportunities.
Ben White, making his first appearance in over three months, went close with a late strike that whistled just past the far post, but it summed up Arsenal’s evening that they mustered just two shots on target.
With a tough trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, Arteta will need a swift response. Liverpool, meanwhile, host Newcastle that same night.
Potter masterminds another Emirates triumph
Graham Potter once again proved his tactical acumen at the Emirates, guiding West Ham to a disciplined and well-earned victory. Despite being without several key attacking players—Lucas Paquetá, Niclas Füllkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio all sidelined—the Hammers carried the greater attacking threat in the first half and defended resolutely in the second to end Arsenal’s 15-match unbeaten Premier League run.
They could have been ahead even before Bowen’s goal, with Tomas Souček twice heading over and Bowen himself side-footing wide from Wan-Bissaka’s delivery. The winger nearly doubled his tally after the break, narrowly failing to connect with Aaron Cresswell’s low cross.
Kudus’ blistering pace on the counter posed constant problems, and it was his surge forward that led to Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal. The Ghanaian was later involved in another promising break alongside second-half substitute Evan Ferguson, though the Irishman ultimately ran into traffic when a smarter pass could have sealed the game.
The win means Potter has now triumphed in four of his five matches at the Emirates—a record only bettered by Pep Guardiola (eight) and Jürgen Klopp (six) among visiting managers.
For Arsenal, a familiar sense of frustration lingers. Another opportunity missed, and with Liverpool still in control at the top, the margin for error is shrinking.
