First Half
The Premier League leaders got off to a flying start, with Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard scoring brilliant first-time goals just 10 minutes – but, like the previous week at Anfield, Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t hang on to their lead.
They fell behind just before half-time when Said Benrahma scored from the penalty spot after Gabriel had fouled Lucas Paqueta. Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Michail Antonio’s handball, but Bukayo Saka sent it out of bounds.
It became even more expensive when West Ham evened up two minutes later with a superb finish from Jarrod Bowen. In the last ten minutes Antonio hit the crossbar for the Hammers, but Arteta’s Arsenal will be disappointed for giving away two more points.
Arsenal now sits four points ahead of second-placed Manchester City, despite having played one more game. The Arsenal can close the deficit to seven points if they defeat Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals next weekend.
After that, Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a key encounter for the championship battle. West Ham finished the half on top when Benrahma calmly tapped home the penalty. Aaron Ramsdale pushed over Antonio’s header from a Bowen free-kick, then White diverted Tomas Soucek’s header over at a corner.
Second Half
In the opening minutes of the second half, both teams showed some pace moving forward, and it appeared that Arsenal was taking a huge stride towards a third goal and the three points. Martinelli’s shot struck Antonio high on the arm raised in the box, prompting Coote to give a penalty.
After the second went in, Moyes wore a thundering face, likely intended at Benrahma, who did not want to track degaard’s run. Gabriel Martinelli has crossed once before with no results. As he tried again, degaard, who was wide open at the far post, got his body in position to volley home.
Moyes had abandoned his two-striker experiment from the previous weekend’s success at Fulham, bringing back the fit-again Paquetá on the left of the midfield three and Benrahma front of him.West Ham seemed to be in trouble, and the home crowd booed when a high ball in the 27th minute.
Before that, they had so much time and space for the ball that West Ham fans could sigh. West Ham had tightened up and pressed, with Partey and Jesus both penalised for fouls to halt a counterattack. Moyes’ squad was also threatening from set pieces; Antonio should have done better with one header from a free-kick as halftime neared.
It blew back like a storm when Saka missed the spot, and there was ecstasy when Bowen scored almost instantly after Kehrer gathered a clearing header from Magalhes and lobbed forward. Bowen had to work hard to complete the skill, the ball bouncing over his shoulder, but the contact was solid and the force was too much for Ramsdale’s fingers.
A squeezing Jesus was unable to connect with a low Kieran Tierney cross, Saka fired tamely at Fabianski on the break, and West Ham looked the more dangerous. Arsenal would simply have to do some soul-searching.
