It was a dramatic 90 minutes at the London stadium on Sunday for Mikel Arteta and his title chasing Gunners as they recorded a narrow 1-0 win against West Ham to move 5 points clear again in the title race. Calling it dramatic would be an understatement in a game that had big chances, even bigger saves and a VAR decision that took 5 minutes before disallowing a late goal from the Hammers.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal woke up on Sunday morning with their lead reduced to 2 points after rivals Manchester City took all three points against Brentford the previous evening and Arteta knew that anything other than a win would be a massive blow to their chances of silverware in the league. Well aware of the task ahead of them, the Gunners got off to a good start and enjoyed a lot of possession in the early stages of the game and it was unsurprising that their dominance resulted in the team getting chances to fire the team ahead. Calafiori had a few looks at goal in the first 20 minutes of the match, a shot from 25 yards which flew just over the angle of post and crossbar and an earlier opportunity which was denied by good work from Dino Mavropanos who blocked the Italian's goalbound shot. Mavropanos also cleared a Calafiori flicked on header off the line and a Trossard effort was well saved by keeper, Mads Hermansen. In a positive first 25 minutes Arsenal had nine attempts on goal but with no end product to speak off.
Injury
An injury to Ben White in the 27th minute interrupted the flow of the game for Arsenal with Arteta strangely switching Declan Rice to right back with substitute Martin Zubimendi taking his place in the centre of midfield, only for Arteta to undo this move at half time, bringing on Mosquera for Calafiori and moving Myles Lewis Skelly back into the left back position. The second half wore on with little to show in terms of clear opportunities for the Gunners, Saka having the best of it with two long range efforts sailing harmlessly over the bar. Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz were introduced with 25 minutes left to try and force a way through the stubborn West Ham defence and it was the masterful Odegaard who provided a weighted pass to Trossard on 83 minutes to blast home past the solid Hermansen to give the Gunners the lead. The game had finally swung in Arsenal's favour and although they had the tireless Trossard to thank, it was their talisman keeper Raya who they also had to thank for his point blank stop of a Fernandes shot just five minutes previously when the Portugese midfielder found himself in a one to one with the keeper. More drama ensued when in injury time West Ham sent across a corner which Raya failed to hold and the clearance from Saliba fell to Wilson who drove home from ten yards out. Cue mass celebrations from the West Ham players and fans only for the referee to signal for a Var intervention which showed that Raya had been fouled as the corner came across as he attempted to grab the ball. Massive relief then for the traveling Arsenal fans and Arteta and when the whistle went moments later, the magnitude of the result could be felt from all on the Arsenal side.
Crafted by Martin 🪄
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 11, 2026
Completed by Leo 🥶 pic.twitter.com/wsWH5oGkaK
Relieved
In his post match press conference, Arteta was understandably proud of his team after a grueling week at home and in Europe "Amazing. I feel so happy, so proud. Relieved as well, because we knew the difficulty of the game, but we've done it. It's been a phenomenal week in every sense. What the team has done, the way we've played, the way we have approached games. Then what our supporters have done for us this season, all week and today as well. It's phenomenal, I think it changes the energy of the team and we have to live in the present now and just think about Burnley because that's the only important thing".
ANOTHER BIG STEP. pic.twitter.com/Fyv4cB3obP
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 10, 2026
Historic Sesaon
Five points clear and with two games left (Burnley & Crystal Palace) of a possibly historic season for Arsenal, the belief that this season could be the one that finally delivers is starting to sink in for the Arsenal faithful. Nearest challengers, Manchester City however will not give up until it becomes mathematically impossible for them to win it and with three games remaining will hope to keep the pressure on the Gunners by winning all three. Their game in hand is on Wednesday evening against Crystal Palace and they are all too aware that anything other than three points here will hand a huge incentive and possibly the league to Arsenal. Palace on the other hand are into the Europa Conference League final on May 27th and are safe from relegation, Arsenal fans will be hoping that the Eagles do the Gunners a favour in this key fixture in the title race. The excitement continues to build in North London and Arsenal stand on the brink of history with two league games and one Champions League final between them and immortality.
COYG!
