Arsenal surrendered a two‑goal lead for the second consecutive match as Bukayo Saka’s missed penalty proved decisive in the Premier League leaders’ 2‑2 draw with West Ham on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side raced to a 2‑0 advantage within the first ten minutes at the London Stadium, with Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard finding the net. Yet, just a week after squandering a similar lead against Liverpool, the Gunners again cracked under title‑race pressure. Said Benrahma’s spot‑kick cut the deficit before halftime, and after Saka’s wide penalty early in the second half, Jarrod Bowen volleyed home an equaliser for the struggling hosts.
The result was a blow to Arsenal, who remain four points ahead of second‑placed Manchester City but have lost momentum to Pep Guardiola’s side. City narrowed the gap to three points after a 3‑1 victory over Leicester on Saturday and now hold the title’s destiny in their hands, despite trailing Arsenal for much of the season. Having won their last ten matches in all competitions, City also possess a game in hand and face Arsenal at the Emirates on April 26. A win would secure their fifth title in six seasons, provided they claim their remaining eight fixtures. By the time Arsenal travel to Southampton on Friday, a victory would extend their lead to seven points, yet the margin still feels precariously thin for fans fearing a missed golden opportunity to clinch their first league crown since 2004. While City are battle‑tested in handling title pressure, Arsenal’s youthful squad appears to be suffering an ill‑timed bout of nerves.
Arsenal could have charted a very different course after just seven minutes. Ødegaard’s clever pass found Ben White, whose low cross was slotted home by Jesus at the far post—his fourth goal in three games. Three minutes later, Gabriel Martínelli delivered a pinpoint cross to Ødegaard, who volleyed past Lukasz Fabianski from an acute angle six yards out. The turning point arrived in the 33rd minute when Arsenal, perhaps over‑confident after the swift start, conceded a penalty. Thomas Partey lost possession to Declan Rice, who released Lucas Paquetá’s run; Gabriel Magalhães’ mistimed sliding tackle was correctly adjudicated as a handball, awarding West Ham a spot‑kick. Mohamed Salah had missed a penalty against Arsenal the previous weekend, but this time Ben Rahma sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way.
Michail Antonio’s header was tipped over by Ramsdale moments later, and Arsenal began to wobble. Antonio then earned a 50th‑minute penalty when his outstretched arm blocked Martínelli’s flick, but Saka’s attempt missed the target entirely, echoing his Euro 2020 final shoot‑out miss against Italy. Holding his head in his hands, Saka’s failure left Arsenal rattled, and David Moyes’ side seized the equaliser in the 54th minute. Thilo Kehrer’s pass found the Arsenal area, and Bowen, just onside, volleyed the ball, which skidded past Ramsdale’s desperate dive. In the closing stages, Antonio nearly clinched it for West Ham, heading Ben Rahma’s cross against the bar.
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