Arsenal better their chances of clinching the Premier League (PL) title with a 2-0 victory against West Ham United at the London Stadium, thereby handing the Hammers their 135th defeat in London derby’s history, a new record.
From the start, the Gunners everywhere were threatening. Jurrien Timber’s shot tested Alphonse Areola before Bukayo Saka’s dangerous ball into the box created a scramble for the ball where both Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze had an opportunity to score but they couldn’t. The Arsenal winger thought they had taken the lead when he slid the ball into the net, but the attempt was disallowed due to an offside position.
Taking the initiative in the 38th minute was the former Hammer, however, Declan Rice the one that punished his old side. Areola blocked Eze’s shot straight back to the danger area, and Rice was quick to react by firing it into the top corner, giving the Gunners a deserved lead at the break. On the stroke of the interval, Riccardo Calafiori was very close to doubling the lead, with his shot hitting the post.
It happened on the 66th minute that the visitors finally got the goal they needed. After El Hadji Malick Diouf fouled Timber in the area, Saka took the penalty spot and unobtrusively scored his 100th PL goal contribution.
Rice and Martin Ødegaard going off injured overshadowed the victory, but the win by Arsenal moves them top of the table for now, while Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham lie in the relegation zone.
