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Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations were dealt a significant blow as we suffered a 1-0 loss to West Ham and had Myles Lewis-Skelly sent off.
Arsenal suffered a significant setback in their title aspirations with a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United. The match, held on February 22, 2025, saw the Gunners’ 15-match unbeaten league run come to an end, leaving them eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
The first half was largely uneventful, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. Arsenal’s first real opportunity came in the 21st minute when Riccardo Calafiori’s shot was comfortably saved by West Ham’s goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola. However, it was West Ham who broke the deadlock just before halftime. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross found Jarrod Bowen, who headed past David Raya to give the visitors the lead.
The second half saw Arsenal pushing for an equalizer, but their efforts were hampered when substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off in the 72nd minute. Lewis-Skelly was initially shown a yellow card for a foul on Mohammed Kudus, but after a VAR review, the card was upgraded to a red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Despite being down to ten men, Arsenal continued to press for a goal. Leandro Trossard forced a good save from Areola, and Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White both came close to scoring in the closing stages. However, West Ham’s defense held firm, and the Gunners were unable to find the back of the net.
The defeat leaves Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread, with Liverpool having the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. West Ham, on the other hand, celebrated a well-deserved victory, their second under new manager Graham Potter.
Arsenal will need to regroup quickly as they face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League fixture, followed by a Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven.
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