West Ham pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory in a London derby against Arsenal, marking their first Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium since 2015 and dealing a blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations.
The opening goal came from a chaotic scramble in the Arsenal box, culminating in Tomas Soucek confidently slotting the ball home. West Ham extended their lead when Konstantinos Mavropanos flicked in James Ward-Prowse’s corner.
Despite Arsenal’s efforts, including opportunities for Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus, they failed to mount a comeback. This result allowed Liverpool to increase their lead at the top of the table by two points after Gameweek 19.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
In the early stages, Ward-Prowse’s attempt for West Ham narrowly missed the target, while Arsenal created their first notable chance with Bukayo Saka’s shot straight at Alphonse Areola.
West Ham’s gritty style paid off as a defensive mix-up led to Soucek’s goal. The VAR check, albeit lengthy, confirmed the goal’s validity. Arsenal pressed on but couldn’t find the net, with Saka’s header saved acrobatically by Areola.
An injury to Lucas Paqueta added to West Ham’s challenges, but Arsenal struggled to convert chances. Saka hit the post, and Trossard missed the rebound opportunity.
Declan Rice nearly scored a spectacular goal against his former team, but his long-range effort sailed over the bar. Arsenal’s wastefulness cost them as Mavropanos, a former Arsenal player, increased West Ham’s lead with a powerful header from Ward-Prowse’s corner.
Despite Arsenal’s attempts to rally, West Ham’s solid defense held firm. Arsenal’s frustrations continued as Raya saved Said Benrahma’s penalty, denying West Ham a third goal.
The match concluded with West Ham securing three points, elevating them to sixth place, while Arsenal now trails Liverpool by two points at the top of the table.