arsenal

Arsenal title hopes take a hit as they throw away 2-goal lead vs West Ham

Arsenal's title hopes took a hit as they once again threw away a two-goal lead, this time against West Ham in a 2-2 draw.

Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard scored clinical finishes to put Arsenal ahead after just 10 minutes but Said Benrahma's penalty pulled one back for West Ham just before half-time.

Arsenal had a chance to extend their lead early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty for Michail Antonio's handball, but Bukayo Saka missed the spot kick.

This proved costly as West Ham equalized just two minutes later through Jarrod Bowen's smart finish.

The dropped points could have major implications for Arsenal's title hunt, as they are now only four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal's Fast Start

After seeing Manchester City score three goals in the first half against Leicester, Arsenal responded with a fast start of their own.

Odegaard, Partey, Saka, and Ben White combined to release the latter down the right byline before he squared to Jesus for a simple tap-in.

Four minutes later, Martinelli's superb ball found Odegaard at the back post, who slammed home past Lukasz Fabianski.

Arsenal then sat on their two-goal advantage, failing to create many other clear-cut chances and enjoying over 75% of the ball as the half went on.

mikel arteta looking uset after arsenal loss

West Ham's Comeback

Arsenal invited West Ham back into the contest after a slack play by Partey, who was outplayed by Declan Rice. Rice quickly found Paqueta in the box. Gabriel brought the Brazilian midfielder down, and Benrahma cooly slotted the penalty home as West Ham ended the half in the ascendancy.

Both sides showed some impetus going forwards in the opening minutes of the second half. Martinelli's shot hit Antonio's outstretched arm in the box, and Arsenal was awarded a penalty.

However, Saka missed the target, and the significance of that miss was amplified two minutes later when Bowen scored.

The dropped two points, to go with the two dropped at Liverpool last week, could prove costly for Arsenal in the title race.

Conclusion

Mikel Arteta admitted that Arsenal only had themselves to blame after throwing away their second two-goal lead in a week.

"Fatigue-wise? No," he said in his post-match press conference. "What we produced in the first and second half against Liverpool was similar and today we put a higher input in the second half than we did in the first half.

"We were slower in everything that we did. I don't think the team is fatigued or looked fatigued. The best way to do it is convince them how good they are and do what they have to do."

With Manchester City in hot pursuit, Arsenal can ill afford any more slip-ups if they are to win their first Premier League title since 2004.

The result means that Arsenal are now only four points above second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal's next match against Southampton will be crucial, as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table before facing Manchester City in a crucial game for the title race.

Related News
football ball

Champions League Top Scorers 2023-24

football

How To Eat As A Footballer: Best 12 Foods You Need to Eat

football ball

The Complete Football Training Guide: 8 Best Drills and Exercises

Premier League

Iconic English Football Clubs Achievements in Domestic and International Arenas

football ball

Do Football Players Benefit from Deadlifts?

football player ball

12 Shortest Football Players In The World

football

8 Tips How To Become a Professional Football Player

cristiano ronaldo lionel messi

Top 9 Players With Most Trophies In Football History

football

3 Things Football Fans Need to Know When Choosing Betting Sites

Champions League

Which Teams Are The Favorites For The Champions League?

football ball

10 Unique Tips for Successful Sports Betting

football

Becoming a Coach: Powering the Future of Football with Your Passion

football ball

Most expensive football clubs in 2023

football stadium

Transfer Rumors and Speculation: Unraveling the Impact of Transfer News

odegaard wife helene

Who is Martin Odegaard's Girlfriend? Biography of The Stunning Helene Spilling

world cup ball

The 11 Best Football Balls You Can Buy In 2023

Premier League

Premier League 2022-23 Review: In-Depth Club-by-Club Analysis

jacob kiwior wife claudia

Who is Jakub Kiwior's Fiancée? Biography of the Stunning Claudia Kowalczyk

Premier League

Premier League Matchday 34: Fixtures & Weekend Preview

ball football

The Ultimate Football Fan's Guide to Sports Betting at Casinos

martin odegaard gabriel jesus arsenal

Transfer Rumours Intensify: Arsenal Martin Odegaard Signs Shirt for Declan Rice

manchester city haaland foden de bruyne

Will Man City Play Its Game-in-Hand Over Arsenal?

drake

“Drake Curse” and His Football Bets

UEFA

Why did UEFA remove the away goals rule?

football

The Best Football Drills and Exercises for Kids

arsenal

Full History of Arsenal FC: Top Facts All Gunners Should Know

premier league ball

Key reasons why Premier League hype is deserved

Premier League

Premier League Talking Points: The Season So Far

marquinhos wife beatriz arsenal

Who is Marquinhos Girlfriend? All You Need To Know About Beatriz Vinhaes

football ball

What Technologies Using For Testing Football Players Performance