For a little over 80 minutes, we believed in the setback(s) for Arsenal. After their victory against Fulham (3-0) last weekend and the qualification secured during the week for the final of the Champions League, the Gunners were seriously shaken up on the West Ham pitch, literally and figuratively.
However, Mikel Arteta’s team started strong, creating several big chances from set pieces (9th, 22nd). But what followed was much more painful, between the blows received from the Hammers who are playing for their survival in the Premier League, and a game which fell apart after the exit of Ben White (28th).
Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal a major success in this London derby.
After a first opportunity for Taty Castellanos (44th), West Ham had a huge opportunity to open the scoring, with Mateus Fernandes, coming up against David Raya at close range (78th). In the process, Leandro Trossard released his team (0-1, 83rd) on a service from Martin Odegaard, whose entry did good. End of story? Not quite…
A goal refused in added time…
In added time, the Gunners were treated to another huge scare, with Callum Wilson’s equalizing goal from a corner (90th + 4). Except that there was a nice foul on David Raya, both held by the arm by Pablo and by the jersey by Todibo. Very logically, even if he took his time before validating his decision, referee Chris Kavanagh refused this goal.
So here is Arsenal with five points ahead of Manchester City again. The Skyblues still have a match in hand, but William Saliba’s teammates keep their destiny in their hands. If they beat Burnley and Crystal Palace in the last two days, it will be as champions of England that they will challenge PSG at the end of May in the C1 final…
