Arsenal F.C. moved to within touching distance of a first Premier League title in 22 years after a tense 1-0 victory over West Ham United F.C. at the London Stadium on Sunday.
A late strike from Leandro Trossard proved decisive in a nervy encounter that almost ended in heartbreak for the visitors before a dramatic stoppage-time VAR decision preserved Arsenal’s advantage.
With the pressure mounting in the title race, Arsenal delivered when it mattered most, extending their lead over reigning champions Manchester City F.C. to five points and keeping their destiny firmly in their own hands.
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The visitors dominated possession for long spells but struggled to break down a determined West Ham side fighting desperately for Premier League survival. Arsenal had entered the match aware that this fixture represented arguably their toughest remaining hurdle after emphatic recent wins in east London.
West Ham, meanwhile, approached the contest knowing defeat could leave their survival hopes hanging by a thread. The hosts defended resolutely and threatened sporadically on the counterattack, frustrating Arsenal for much of the afternoon.
As tension grew, it was Trossard who finally delivered the breakthrough in the 82nd minute. The Belgian forward reacted quickest inside the area to fire past the goalkeeper and spark wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.
Yet the drama was far from over.
Deep into stoppage time, West Ham thought they had rescued a crucial point when Callum Wilson found the net during a frantic scramble in the Arsenal box. The home crowd erupted, while Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s joking pre-match rallying cry of “come on you Irons” appeared on the verge of paying off.
However, after an agonising VAR review, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, allowing Arsenal to escape with all three points intact.
The victory leaves Mikel Arteta’s side tantalisingly close to ending the club’s long wait for a league crown. Arsenal now face relegated Burnley F.C. before concluding their campaign away to Crystal Palace F.C., who may already have one eye on their upcoming Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.
For West Ham, the outlook is increasingly bleak. The defeat leaves them four points adrift of safety with only two matches remaining, piling pressure on their relegation battle as they wait for results elsewhere to go their way.
