West Ham 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal have one hand on the title. I don’t even know where to start after that game but sometimes your name is just on the trophy and that’s the case for Arsenal in the Premier League, Arsenal actually started the first half really well with Trossard forcing a brilliant save from Hermansen before hitting the post right after. Calafiori also went close as Arsenal looked destined to opened the scoring in the first half, that was until Ben White was forced off with an injury in the 28th minute as Arteta moved Rice to right-back subbing on Zubimendi in midfield which gave West Ham a way into the game for the rest of the first half. Calafiori was also then brought off with an injury at half-time with Lewis-Skelly going to left-back as Mosquera was brought on for the Italian which left Arsenal more open at the back, the first huge chance of the game fell to West Ham as Fernandes played a one-two with Pablo which sent the Portuguese through on goal only for his shot to be saved miraculously by David Raya to keep the game at 0-0 in the 78th minute. Then just five minutes later Arsenal got there goal as Odegaard played a one-two with Declan Rice then laid the ball back to Trossard who’s shot deflected off Soucek past Hermansen to give Arsenal arguably their most important goal of the season so far, Arsenal looked destined for the win until a West Ham corner was swung in with the ball coming back to Callum Wilson who volleyed home bringing West Ham level with almost the last kick of the game. Or so they thought as upon VAR review we could see that Pablo was pretty clearly fouling David Raya from the corner as the referee was sent to the monitor and thus ruled the goal out, what a dramatic finish to the game as Arsenal can almost touch that Premier League trophy.
Who cares about the Arsenal performance? Honestly if I was an Arsenal fan I couldn’t care less that they didn’t play well today as all that matters is the three points and that’s what they got, they started off really strongly and should have been in the lead but after Ben White went off something switched in the game with Rice at right-back which allowed West Ham to come forward and have some attacks to themselves. The player that changed the game for Arsenal was Martin Odegaard who was absolutely brilliant off the bench and won the game for Arsenal with the assist for Trossard’s goal, he’s not had a good season for Arsenal but his impact today was immense and I’m sure won’t be forgotten by Arsenal fans for years to come. Then you have David Raya who yet again showed why he’s the best goalkeeper in the league saving from Fernandes’ who was so close to goal but the Spaniard managed to kick a leg out and keep the game at 0-0 so late on, he did get fouled for the West Ham goal at the end but I do feel for West Ham as Arsenal have been doing this all season to everyone. Arsenal didn’t play well today but they won’t care as they go so close to their first league title since 2004.
West Ham so unfortunate not come away with anything. You have to feel for West Ham today as they went so close to coming away with all three points if Fernandes had of put that chance away so late on, the goal that got ruled out was rightfully so disallowed but I can understand where West Ham fans come from as Arsenal have been fouling the keeper all season long since the very first Premier League against Man United where Bayindir where was quite clearly fouled by Saliba but the goal was still given. Although Fernandes missed West Ham’s best chance he was still their best player on the day and showed why just about every club in world football will be knocking on West Ham’s door if they do go down for his signature as he’s just that good, the flanks was where I was disappointed with West Ham today with both Diouf and Wan-Bissaka playing quite poorly especially going forward where we already know Wan-Bissaka is poor but Diouf was terrible going forward overhitting his crosses every time where he’s normally quite accurate form the wing. Overall it is looking more and more likely each week that West Ham will be getting relegated barring another Spurs collapse in the next three games, a win for Spurs tomorrow takes them 4 points clear of West Ham, you’d imagine that’s the Hammers down if Spurs win tomorrow against Leeds.
Arteta very nearly cost his team three vital points. Obviously people won’t care because Arsenal won today but some of Arteta’s changes in this game where baffling to me anyway, putting Declan Rice right-back after Ben White went off for Zubimendi was a ridiculous move and allowed West Ham to build into the gam when they were getting smothered by Arsenal before then. I’m not sure whether the Calafiori sub was tactical or not but if it was tactical it was yet another very strange decision from Arteta as you’d imagine Hincapie would have been the easy replacement at left-back but he opted for Mosquera and put Lewis-Skelly at left-back. Arteta admitted he made an error as just 30 minutes after subbing Zubimendi on he was subbed off for Odegaard who in the end won the game for Arsenal so you could argue that Arteta made amends for the earlier subs, it won’t be the talking point after the game but Arteta can count himself a lucky man after today.
The title is done now in my opinion. This result now takes Arsenal 5 points clear of City who play their game in hand against Crystal Palace midweek which could take the gap back to two points if they win, Arsenal’s last two games are Burnley(H) and Crystal Palace(A) with City having Bournemouth(A) and Aston Villa(H) following Palace in midweek. These games for City come in between an FA cup final on Saturday against Chelsea which now has become even more important following Arsenal’s win today, barring a ridiculous result at home against Burnley Arsenal should try and boost their goal-difference in that game so that they can draw that Palace game even if City win all their remaining games which I don’t even think they’ll do. Bournemouth haven’t lost a match in four months and with that game only three days after the FA cup final I can’t see City winning that game, if they don’t Arsenal will be crowned champions if they had beat Burnley the night before. That just shows how important the win was today for Arsenal and Arteta, the title race is all but done now barring a slip up against Burnley next week, surely not?