Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result as Gunners dealt huge blow in title race

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The Independent

·22 February 2025

Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result as Gunners dealt huge blow in title race

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Arteta urges Arsenal to adore adversity

Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge suffered a huge blow as West Ham inflicted Mikel Arteta’s side their first home defeat of the season with a shock 1-0 victory at the Emirates.

Jarrod Bowen’s dividing header on the stroke of half-time secured West Ham a second consecutive away victory over the Gunners, with Arsenal struggling to create any meaningful chances in the absence of injured forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Makeshift striker Mikel Merino was unable to repeat the impact of his decisive double at Leicester last weekend, with Bowen instead pouncing on the counter-attack to head in Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross in front of a stunned Emirates crowd.

Arsenal were blunt ahead the break and they faced an uphill task to avoid defeat when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. The left back dragged Mohammed Kudus down on the halfway line as the forward was through on goal.

It means Arsenal miss the opportunity to cut Liverpool’s lead in the title race, and the Reds remain eight points clear ahead of their trip to Manchester City tomorrow. Arsenal visit Nottingham Forest in midweek, with Liverpool hosting Newcastle.

Furious Mikel Arteta accuses Arsenal of dropping standards in West Ham defeat

A furious Mikel Arteta said Arsenal's bid to win the Premier League title is now out of their hands after accusing his players of failing to hit the levels required in their crushing 1-0 defeat against West Ham at the Emirates.

Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game before Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off with 18 minutes remaining to leave the Gunners eight points behind Liverpool with 12 matches remaining.

Arne Slot's side could end the weekend 11 points clear if they beat Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.

And speaking about Arsenal's bid to end their 21-year wait for the title, Arteta conceded: "It's not in our hands.

"I am really, really annoyed with the things that are in our hands - which is the performance and the result - and we didn't do that as well as we possibly could.