West Ham 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners take huge step towards title as late Trossard goal sinks Irons | Football
Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after David Raya starred and Leandro Trossard struck late on in a nerve-jangling 1-0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
In a moment of high-drama at the culmination of a gripping London derby, Callum Wilson appeared to have cancelled out Trossard’s effort, a goal which would have had seismic ramifications at both ends of the division.
West Ham substitute Pablo was adjudged to have fouled Raya in the build-up following a lengthy VAR check, though, as the Gunners were handed a huge let-off to move one giant step closer to a first title in 22 years.
While a forty-point gap separated the two teams ahead of kick-off, it proved an almighty mental and physical challenge for the league leaders, with Nuno Esperito Santo’s relegation-threatened Irons standing strong until the closing stages.
But Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard came on and created the assist for Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute winner, ensuring the visitors claimed maximum points from an absorbing contest, with only two games remaining of the top-flight campaign.
The result comes as a significant blow to second-placed Manchester City, who had cruised to a comfortable victory over Brentford earlier in the weekend.
The first serious opportunity of the derby fell to Riccardo Calafiori after an exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass from Trossard in the ninth minute, but the Italian’s effort was directed behind by the Konstantinos Mavarapanos.
The lively Trossard was at the heart of the action from a corner moments later, only to be denied twice in quick succession by Mads Hermansen and then by the upright.
Calafiori dusted himself off and worked another opening five minutes on from his earlier miss, but the outcome was the same as the defender’s 25-yard strike swerved narrowly wide of the target.
Yet more frustration followed for the visitors in the 15th minute as former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos flung out a boot to keep out Declan Rice’s goal-bound free-kick from the left flank.
The hosts dug deep and rallied after Arsenal’s strong start and fluffed two huge chances of their own at the end of the first half through attackers Crysencio Summerville and Valentin Castellanos.
Jarrod Bowen struck straight at David Raya as West Ham picked up where they left off in the second period, before Bukayo Saka blazed over a wild shot at the other end.
Raya once again underlined his world-class credentials with a top save to deny Fernandes in the 78th minute and Arsenal capitalised soon after as Trossard broke the deadlock to cue rapturous scenes in the away end.
But the drama and tension was not over there, as Wilson appeared to equalise at the death, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul from Pablo on Raya – who had an arm on the Spaniard – in the build-up.
With the Premier League trophy now firmly in their sights, Mikel Arteta’s men return to action at home to Burnley in just over a week’s time, before travelling to Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
Arsenal inadvertently did Tottenham a favour with the win, with 18th-placed West Ham sitting one point adrift of Spurs, who play host to Leeds on Monday night.
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FULL-TIME! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
GOAL DISALLOWED! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
100 mins: Wilson’s last-gasp strike is chalked off!
Nuno is furious, Arteta is in dreamland. Arsenal’s narrow lead is restored.
Could that be the moment that sends Arsenal on their way?
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Arsenal
95 mins: Astonishing late drama here.
West Ham players are celebrating after Wilson appears to hammer the ball over the line.
Arteta thinks there’s a foul from Pablo on Raya in the build-up, though… over to you, VAR.
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
94 mins: Gabriel gets his body in the way to deny an incredible late chance from Wilson.
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
83 mins: TROSSARD SCORES FOR ARSENAL.
Second-half substitute Odegaard puts the ball on a plate for Trossard and the Belgian’s first-time strike nestles in the back of the net via a hefty deflection.
An enormous goal and one that could have seismic ramifications at both ends of the table.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
78 mins: WHAT A SAVE, DAVID RAYA!
Nuno has his head in his hands as West Ham midfielder Fernandes scythes through Arsenal’s defence, only to be denied by Arsenal’s inspirational goalkeeper.
That is unbelievable from the Spaniard. *What* a season he’s having…
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
76 mins: Saka is shown a yellow card after bringing down Summerville with a trip.
He can have no complaints there.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
72 mins: That is superb from Rice, who charges back to block out Diouf’s dangerous cross from the right-hand side.
The Arsenal midfielder has one serious engine on him.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
69 mins: There’s a VAR check after Pablo appears to handle the ball while laid out flat inside the box.
A sigh of relief echoes around the London Stadium as Arsenal’s shouts are waved away.
There’s no way he could possibly have got out the way of that.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
67 mins: Castellanos is replaced by Pablo, while Arsenal make a double change as Odegaard and Havertz come on for Eze and Zubimendi respectively.
Can any of these substitutions make the difference?
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
64 mins: Arsenal are awarded a free-kick in a superb position out on the right flank.
Mosquera is pulled up for a shove on Soucek, though, and West Ham fans let out another big cheer.
What a waste.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
60 mins: Rice swings in a corner from the left and the ball comes back to Trossard on the opposition flank.
It’s eventually scrambled to safety by Soucek, before Rice hits a harmless cross behind to sarcastic cheers from the Hammers faithful.
There are some concerned-looking faces in the away end.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
52 mins: Saka puffs out his cheeks in frustration after cutting inside and blazing over from just outside the box.
It’s been a frustrating afternoon for Arsenal’s No.7 so far.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
51 mins: Confirmation from Sky Sports that Calafiori is not injured.
Arteta had been keen to get Rice back in his favoured position of central midfield, with the England international struggling at right-back following White’s early substitution.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
49 mins: Bowen’s eyes light up and the ball comes free on the edge of the penalty area.
The England forward gets it horribly wrong and Raya is able to collect with ease.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
46 mins: Mosquera is introduced in place of Calafiori and takes up his position at right-back.
Rice returns to central midfield and Lewis-Skelly, in turn, moves to left-back.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
And here we go with the second period…
HALF-TIME! West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
It’s goalless at the midway point. The stage is set for what promises to be an intriguing second period.
Based purely on what we’ve so far, you wouldn’t know 40 points separates the two teams, would you?
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
45 mins: Castellanos outmuscles and outmanoeuvres Saliba and heads Wan-Bissaka’s inch-perfect cross from the right goalwards.
Much to Arteta’s relief on the touchline, Raya is alert to the danger and parries the ball behind for a corner.
The Irons are well and truly on top here!
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
45 mins: Trossard toys with Wan-Bissaka on the left, but the Belgian’s cross comes to nothing and rolls into the arms of Hermansen.
That Arsenal away end will be feeling the nerves.
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West Ham 0-1 Arsenal: Gunners take huge step towards title as late Trossard goal sinks Irons | Football
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