Arsenal’s inability to secure a top-tier striker could have significantly affected their chances of claiming the Premier League title this season. Frequent disciplinary issues have also played a detrimental role in their title ambitions.
In a surprising turn of events, Arsenal was defeated 1-0 at home by West Ham, consequently hindering their pursuit of the league title at a time when it seemed Liverpool was becoming vulnerable. This loss left Liverpool with an eight-point advantage, having matched Arsenal in games played, which may widen further when Liverpool faces Manchester City on Sunday.
West Ham, arriving at Emirates Stadium with only one win in their last eight fixtures, clinched victory thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s header just before halftime. Arsenal’s situation worsened in the 73rd minute when left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card following a video review for a foul on Mohammed Kudus while being the last defender. This incident marked Arsenal’s fifth red card of the season, a total that exceeds any other team, raising concerns about their disciplinary record under manager Mikel Arteta, which has led to crucial dropped points.
Fans have expressed frustration over the club’s failure to sign a proven striker during the last summer or winter transfer windows. With key forwards Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus out due to injuries, Arsenal managed only two shots on target against West Ham. Arteta shared his disappointment following the match, stating, “I am very disappointed, and obviously very angry as well. Even though we had 20 shots, I never felt that we were at the standard and the level that we needed.”
In another match, Manchester United made a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 against Everton. United had initially fallen behind by two goals but managed to equalize late in the game with Manuel Ugarte scoring his first club-level goal in nearly four years. Bruno Fernandes kickstarted the revival by converting a free kick in the 72nd minute. Prior to that, Everton’s Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure had found the back of the net in the first half, seemingly putting United on course for a third consecutive defeat.
The game took a dramatic turn when Everton was awarded a late penalty due to an alleged foul by Harry Maguire on Ashley Young, who fell to the ground as he was pressured. However, after a video review, the referee reversed his initial decision. United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, noted that they only “played one half” and were fortunate to salvage a point.
Chelsea faced disappointment as well, succumbing to Aston Villa 2-1 after a critical error by goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen. Just before the end of the match, a shot from Marco Asensio slipped through Jörgensen’s hands into the net, marking Asensio’s second goal of the game. Enzo Fernandez had originally given Chelsea the lead in the ninth minute, but Villa’s comeback saw them move into seventh place, just a point behind Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.
In addition, Bournemouth, currently fifth, faced a setback in their pursuit for a Champions League spot with a 1-0 home loss to Wolverhampton, largely influenced by defender Illya Zabarnyi’s red card. Meanwhile, Tottenham achieved their third consecutive league victory by defeating Ipswich 4-1, while Southampton’s struggles continued with a 4-0 loss to Brighton, and Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 win against Fulham.
These results have further intensified the competition in the league as teams vie for top positions and Champions League spots as the season unfolds.
