West Ham 2-2 Arsenal: Gunners dealt Premier League title race blow as Hammers fight back from two goals down

Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead for the second weekend running as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Ham United that undermined their title challenge with more dropped points

The Gunners made the perfect start and were 2-0 up inside 10 minutes, first through Gabriel Jesus who tapped in at the end of a crisp move, and later Martin Odegaard whose close-range volley also followed good build-up play.

West Ham offered nothing in the opening half an hour and the London Stadium was growing frustrated, but then Thomas Partey gifted the home side a lifeline by trying an ill-judged flick. Declan Rice won the ball and moved it on to Lucas Paqueta, who won a penalty that was scored by Said Benrahma.

Arsenal hung on until the break but then gave West Ham another lifeline soon after as, having been awarded a penalty for handball, Bukayo Saka missed the target entirely.

Arsenal were made to pay two minutes later when nobody tracked Jarrod Bowen, allowing him to volley into the ground and beyond Aaron Ramsdale.

Jesus came closest to an Arsenal response, but was not quite fast or tall enough to get on the end of a cross flashed across the face of goal.

Michail Antonio headed onto the crossbar as West Ham almost won it late on.

The point takes Arsenal four clear of Manchester City, but they have played one game more and still have to visit the Etihad Stadium. West Ham are now four points above the relegation zone.

TALKING POINT – Arsenal’s inability to see game out costs them again

It is one thing to surrender a lead at Anfield. Liverpool, for all their faults, still boast some brilliant attacking players and it is a ground Arsenal have a notoriously poor record at. But there is no way to dress this up as anything other than two points lost, and lost in a self-inflicted manner.

Arsenal were absolutely cruising until giving away the first penalty in silly circumstances and they never recovered. The half-time break could not save them and nor could a fortuitous penalty of their own, which they squandered. In light of West Ham hitting the woodwork late on, Arsenal were perhaps fortunate to leave with a point at all.

It feels harsh to say Arsenal succumbed to the pressure. They have been impressive for so much of the campaign and shown mettle in scoring some notable late winners. Yet there really is no other explanation for why they went from looking so dominant to so vulnerable. Or why Saka, who has been sure-footed from the spot so far this season, shot wide of the mark. This may well prove to be a decisive result in the race for the title.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)

His movement was too good for West Ham early on. Not only did Jesus score the first goal – which was among the easiest he’ll ever get – the Brazilian was also instrumental in the second, with his smart switch of play stretching the hosts and helping create the space Odegaard exploited. Jesus has hit the ground running on his return from injury and has four goals in three league starts.

PLAYER RATINGS

West Ham United: Fabianski 6, Coufal 6, Kehrer 7, Zouma 7, Cresswell 6, Rice 6, Soucek 5, Paqueta 5, Benrahma 7, Bowen 7, Antonio 7. Subs: Cornet 6, Downes 6, Fornals n/a.

Arsenal: Ramsdale 5, White 6, Holding 6, Gabriel 5, Tierney 7, Partey 4, Xhaka 6, Odegaard 7, Saka 6, Jesus 8, Martinelli 6. Subs: Trossard 5, Jorginho 6, Nketiah 5, Viera 6, Nelson 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

JESUS GIVES ARSENAL LEAD 7′ – Nobody tracks White on the Arsenal right and he’s able to get to the byline then cut the ball across for Jesus, who has a tap-in.

ODEGAARD VOLLEYS IN SECOND 10′ – Arsenal double their lead with another well-worked goal but it’s far too easy. Odegaard ghosts in on the right and is picked out by Martinellli. Odergaard still has plenty to do, but emphatically volleys home.

WEST HAM PENALTY 31′ – Arsenal get themselves in trouble playing it out, as Rice dispossesses Partey, then Gabriel brings down Paqueta to give West Ham an unlikely lifeline.

BENRAHMA SENDS RAMSDALE WRONG WAY 33′ – Benrahma slots the penalty home to Ramsdale’s left – the keeper went right.

ARSENAL PENALTY 50′ – As Arsenal look to keep a chance alive, Martinelli kicks the ball into Antonio’s arm and the referee points to the spot. Antonio was close, but his arm was up.

SAKA MISSES THE PENALTY 52′ – A stuttered run-up from Saka and he misses the target entirely.

BOWEN EQUALISES 54′ – As the Arsenal defence pushes out, they do not account for Bowen who gets on the end of a looping ball over the top and side-foot volleys past Ramsdale.

ANTONIO HITS BAR 81′ – Antonio is unmarked at the far post, Benrahma’s cross gets there, but the back-pedaling Antonio can’t quite keep his header down and it clips the bar.

KEY STAT

This is the first time Arsenal have surrendered a two-goal lead in back-to-back Premier League games.