Arsenal's Premier League title hopes may have all but evaporated as their unbeaten home record came to an end in a 1-0 loss to London rivals West Ham United.
Setting up in a 5-3-2 shape after losing Lucas Paqueta to injury in the week, West Ham absorbed 44 minutes of Arsenal pressure before hitting their hosts with a Jarrod Bowen-sized sucker-punch on the stroke of half time.
Mikel Arteta's striker-starved Arsenal were fresh out of ideas in the first half, and the second 45 did not bring any respite for Gooners, who then witnessed their side go down to 10 when Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The 10 men of Arsenal continued to probe away as the clock reached 100 minutes, but Graham Potter's staunch defence held out to potentially hammer the final nail in their hosts' Premier League title coffin.
The Gunners remain eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool in the rankings having now played the same number of games, while West Ham stay 16th but have drawn level on points with Manchester United.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
As Arsenal's unbeaten home run in the 2024-25 Premier League season comes to an end, so might their already wafer-thin chances of pipping Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Arteta saw enough from Leicester City hero Mikel Merino to stick him up front from the first whistle on Saturday, and while the Spaniard was heavily involved throughout, it could hardly have been more evident that he was a square peg in a round hole.
Intriguingly, West Ham also went without a traditional number nine, but their front two of Bowen and Mohammed Kudus were full of life - unlike Arsenal's entire outfield - and Potter's defensive structure was unwavering all afternoon.
The former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion boss has now incredibly won four of his last five Premier League games against Arsenal at the Emirates, as West Ham avenged their crushing 6-0 and 5-2 losses to the Gunners at home in 2024 and repeated their North London trick from last season.
Merino may have got Arsenal out of jail last weekend, but their failure to sign just one new striker - any striker - in January has now come back to bite them, and Liverpool can surely start to draw up their plans for a Premier League trophy parade.
ARSENAL VS. WEST HAM HIGHLIGHTS
44th min: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham (Jarrod Bowen)
Talk about against the run of play! Arsenal's huffing and puffing has got them nowhere in the first half, and West Ham need just one opportunity to take advantage.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka leads the charge down the right after another Gunners attack peters out and is given far too much time by Riccardo Calafiori to send in a cross, which Bowen meets with a diving header from close range after ghosting past Declan Rice.
72nd min: Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal) Red Card
© Iconsport
Lewis-Skelly is sent off for the second time this season, and something tells me this one will not be getting rescinded!
The teenager is caught cold by Kudus as he dallies on the ball, and just as the West Ham attacker is about to bear down on goal with David Raya well off his line, Lewis-Skelly hauls him down.
Craig Pawson initially lets the Hale End product off with a warning, but after an on-field review, his punishment is upgraded to a red card. Correct call and a calamitous afternoon for Arsenal.
MAN OF THE MATCH - AARON WAN-BISSAKA
© Imago
Enjoying a field day against an out-of-sorts Calafiori on the right-hand side, Wan-Bissaka provided a sumptuous assist for Bowen's winner on the afternoon and provided the consistent attacking threat that he has not always been associated with.
The ex-Manchester United man completed three of his four dribble attempts, drew two fouls and created three chances, while also winning three of his four aerial duels and making six clearances to help keep the hosts at bay.
ARSENAL VS. WEST HAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 68%-32% West Ham
Shots: Arsenal 20-5 West Ham
Shots on target: Arsenal 2-2 West Ham
Corners: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fouls: Arsenal 15-15 West Ham
BEST STATS
Jarrod Bowen's header against Arsenal was his 50th goal in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/CxYXBNUN6z
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 22, 2025
Aged 18 years, 121 days old, Myles Lewis-Skelly becomes the youngest player in Premier League history to be sent off more than once.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 22, 2025
His red against Wolves was rescinded; this one probably won't be... pic.twitter.com/6BTzPzstb4
WHAT NEXT?
A fascinating battle with Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest awaits Arsenal at the City Ground on Wednesday, before Arteta's men battle PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 4, and confidence should not be high for the resumption of their continental campaign.
For a European football and FA Cup-less West Ham, their next assignment comes at home to struggling Leicester City on February 27.
Ben Knapton
