- West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
- Hunted by a Serial Winner and a Robot
Another 2-2 draw in London means Arsenal are now just four points above Manchester City, despite playing one game more than their northern rivals. The Gunners lost a 2-goal lead last week against Liverpool and have now done the same against West Ham, a team battling relegation. Arteta’s men are feeling the pressure of the most dangerous period in a Premier League title race, and it is playing right into the hands of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
Arsenal started their game against the Hammers like a house on fire, with two quick-fire goals under 10 minutes. Many backed the Gunners to get more goals in the game, but that was not the case. A quick pressure on Thomas Partey from Declan Rice yielded massive results as the English midfielder won the ball, and found Lucas Paqueta in the box, Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães fouled his compatriot to hand West Ham a route back into the game. Said Benrahma converted smoothly to half the deficit.
Bukayo Saka who has been incredible all season for the Gunners missed from the spot and that kept West Ham’s hope of getting a result alive. Thilo Kehrer’s looping pass found Jarrod Bowen, who volleyed the ball home just 10 minutes after the restart.
Hunted by A Serial Winner and A Robot
Manchester City secured another routine win over Leicester City, with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland starring. The Citizens are on a 10-game winning run and are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in all competitions; they just won’t stop. Pep Guardiola is a serial winner who knows what it takes to be champions. The Spanish coach is now armed with a Robot, that seemingly cannot stop scoring at the moment. Having a team as consistent as City be your direct title rival is nightmarish for any team, not to talk of the young and virtually inexperienced Gunners.
Still, Arsenal’s fate lie in their own hands. They just need to get back to finishing games off as early as possible. That, and not losing to Manchester City later this month, could get them over the line.
