Arsenal vs West Ham United
In a surprising turn of events on February 22, 2025, Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations suffered a setback with a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium. The decisive moment came just before halftime when West Ham’s captain, Jarrod Bowen, connected with a precise cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, heading the ball past Arsenal’s goalkeeper to secure the lead.
Arsenal’s efforts to equalize were hindered by the absence of key attacking players, including Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka, all sidelined due to injuries. This left the Gunners struggling to penetrate West Ham’s organized defense, managing only two shots on target throughout the match.
The situation worsened for Arsenal in the 73rd minute when substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card. Initially shown a yellow for a foul on Mohammed Kudus, the decision was upgraded to a red after a VAR review, leaving Arsenal with ten men for the remainder of the game.
This defeat leaves Arsenal trailing league leaders Liverpool by eight points, intensifying the pressure as the season progresses. Conversely, West Ham’s victory under manager Graham Potter boosts their position, marking a significant achievement in their campaign.
—