West Ham – Arsenal 2-2 (1-2)
Arsenal must not make too many mistakes if they are to win the Premier League this season. Because with Manchester City in good form chasing from behind, the London team had to put pressure on Erling Braut Haaland and co.
Martin Odegaard and colleagues. certainly can’t throw away a two-goal advantage, but that’s what happened Again – this time against neighbors West Ham.
When Martin Ødegaard put the ball in the net after ten minutes, it was likely thought it would just be a transport stage for the league leaders. West Ham wanted it differently and hit back twice.
Arsenal had the chance to make it 3-1, but instead got a 2-2 draw a minute later, after Bukayo Saka’s shot went wide from the penalty spot.
– Things like that happen, he’s been fantastic all season and was good from the start. But that wasn’t the day. We won and lost together, said Ødegaard, who comforted Saka after the loss.
– Can determine the season
Thus, Arsenal lead the league with four points and one more game played than Manchester City. The two teams will also meet at the Etihad before the season ends.
– We started doing a lot of stupid things with the ball, we let them play long balls, Ødegaard told Sky Sports after the game.
One minute in tonight’s game could mean the difference between gold and silver when we do the math in May.
– The pressure builds and doubt creeps in. It could define the season, quite simply, what happens now, said Viaplay’s Rune Bratseth.
– We must remember that we are still leading the league and have everything in our hands, said Ødegaard.
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Premier League |
||||||||
| Armory | 31 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 74 | – | 31 | 74 |
| Manchester C. | 30 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 78 | – | 28 | 70 |
| New Castle | 30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 48 | – | 24 | 56 |
| United | 29 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 44 | – | 37 | 56 |
| Tottenham | 31 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 57 | – | 45 | 53 |
| Aston Villa | 31 | 15 | 5 | 11 | 44 | – | 40 | 50 |
| Brighton | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 54 | – | 37 | 49 |
| Liverpool | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 50 | – | 35 | 44 |
| Brentford | 31 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 47 | – | 42 | 43 |
| Fulham | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 42 | – | 41 | 42 |
| Chelsea | 31 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 30 | – | 33 | 39 |
| Crystal Palace | 31 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 31 | – | 40 | 36 |
| Wolverhampton | 31 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 26 | – | 42 | 34 |
| Bournemouth | 31 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 31 | – | 59 | 33 |
| West Ham | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 29 | – | 41 | 31 |
| Leeds | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 39 | – | 54 | 29 |
| Everton | 31 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 24 | – | 46 | 27 |
| Nottingham F. | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 24 | – | 54 | 27 |
| Leicester | 31 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 41 | – | 55 | 25 |
| Southampton | 31 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 24 | – | 53 | 23 |
BIG MISS: Bukayo Saka hammers the ball wide of the target. Photo: Reuters/Matthew Childs/NTB
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Early dream
Arsenal started the game in the best possible way with two goals in the first ten minutes. First, Gabriel Jesus effortlessly put the ball in the net after a fine Arsenal game, before Martin Ødegaard put the ball in the net with a volley.
Instead of pressing play, Arsenal did what the crew did against Liverpool at Anfield in the last league: Throw away a two-goal lead.
First, Said Benhrama scored from the penalty spot after Lucas Paqueta was fouled, before Bukaya Saka got the same chance from the spot when Michail Antonio was tackled in his own box.
Instead of securing the advantage, the Arsenal winger scored the ball wide against Lukasz Fabianski’s goal.
– It was an incomprehensible bad penalty from such a good player, said Lars Tjærnås on Viaplay.
Then what happens, what often happens in football is a goal at the other end. Jarred Bowen has struggled for most of this season but showed his old class when he volleyed home one minute after a missed penalty.
“I hit it well and saw him come in and the sound from the crowd was amazing,” said Bowen.
Arsenal are shaken.
Howler: – Terrible
Zero control
Saka had a chance to get revenge minutes later, but his shot was straight at Fabianski.
There were several tense final minutes for Arsenal, as the home side looked dangerous when they attacked, while Mikel Arteta’s men struggled to create anything.
Ten minutes before dispersal, Antonio poked the ball over the crossbar and over the goal.
– Arsenal have gone from complete control to zero control, said Tjærnås directly.
Ødegaard was substituted as the 90 minutes passed and Arsenal could never decide the game.
For West Ham, it was a much-needed point at the bottom of the game. The team is four points over the line.
– That’s a very important point. Nobody expected us to get anything out of this game. We used that to our advantage and attacked them,” said goalscorer Bowen after the game.
