Arsenal close in on first Premier League title in 22 years

Arsenal extended their lead over Manchester City to five points with a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham.

Gunners survive late scare Arsenal secured a nervy 1-0 victory against West Ham, with Leandro Trossard’s goal proving decisive after a controversial disallowed late equalizer. The win moved Mikel Arteta’s side five points clear of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand. It marked the seventh time this season Arsenal have won a Premier League match by a single goal. The result came after a frustrating run where they had won just two of their previous eight games across all competitions. ## Title race hangs in balance The victory at the London Stadium was a pivotal moment in Arsenal’s push for their first top-flight title since 2004. Manchester City’s midweek slip-up gave the Gunners breathing room despite having one fewer game played. Arsenal’s inconsistent form earlier in the campaign saw them suffer back-to-back league defeats during an eight-game stretch. However, three consecutive clean sheets—including a Champions League semifinal triumph—have reignited their title hopes. ## Arteta hails team’s resilience Mikel Arteta expressed overwhelming pride after the win, calling the afternoon “full of emotions.” He praised the team’s attitude, desire, and courage in a must-win clash against a club fighting for survival. The manager highlighted the difficulty of the task, noting the importance of every point in a tight title race. Arteta also singled out the officials for their bravery in making a key VAR decision. ## Chaotic finale decides the game The final minutes at the London Stadium descended into chaos as David Raya made a crucial save to deny Mateus Fernandes. Leandro Trossard’s intervention and a VAR review then ruled out Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time goal for a foul on Raya by Pablo. Arteta described the disallowed effort as one of the “most chaotic circumstances” in a heated encounter. He commended referee Chris Kavanagh for the decisive call amid intense pressure. ## Odegaard’s influence shines through Martin Odegaard played a pivotal role in the winner, providing the assist for Trossard’s goal. Arteta revealed he had prepared the substitutes to seize control if the match required changes. The captain’s “incredible impact” was highlighted as a factor in Arsenal’s late surge. The manager emphasized the importance of fresh legs in tight contests. ## Raya claims Golden Glove again David Raya has been Arsenal’s standout performer, securing the Premier League Golden Glove for the third straight season. The goalkeeper has kept 27 clean sheets in 49 appearances across all competitions this term. His performance against West Ham included a vital stop to deny Fernandes in injury time. Trossard credited Raya for keeping his side in the game with multiple crucial saves. ## Raya’s season among the best David Raya now boasts the fourth-best goals conceded per match ratio among goalkeepers with at least 100 Premier League appearances, standing at 0.79. Only Petr Čech (0.72), Edwin van der Sar (0.76), and Ederson (0.78) have better records. Arteta admitted it was hard to pick Raya’s best save of the season due to their sheer volume of quality stops. The manager called the save against Fernandes “one of the most needed moments” of the campaign. ## Title within touching distance Arsenal now need just two more wins to claim the Premier League trophy, with Burnley and Crystal Palace standing in their way. Their final two fixtures could feature a weakened Palace side if Oliver Glasner rests players ahead of the Conference League final. This season, Arsenal have played 60 games across competitions, recording 42 wins and a 70% win rate. Victory in either game would secure a historic double of Premier League and Champions League titles. ## Trossard stresses focus ahead Leandro Trossard acknowledged the magnitude of the remaining matches, stating the team has “all the belief” they can complete the job. He emphasized the need for hard work in the next two games to secure three points. The club’s potential double triumph would be the first in their history. Trossard insisted the stakes were clear to everyone involved.