Review

Arsenal surrender two-goal lead again in blow to title hopes

16 Apr 2023

Gunners are held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham while Man Utd climb to third after 2-0 win at Forest

Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead for the second successive week and missed the chance to move six points clear of Manchester City after being held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

Following their 2-2 draw against Liverpool last week, Arsenal took a seventh-minute lead when Gabriel Jesus tapped in his fourth goal in three matches from Ben White’s cross.

WHU

2-2

ARS

TV Info - Broadcasters

The Gunners doubled their advantage just three minutes later, Martin Odegaard volleying in from six yards after being picked out by Gabriel Martinelli.

Said Benrahma halved the deficit for West Ham on 33 minutes from the penalty spot, sending Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way after Gabriel had fouled Lucas Paqueta.

Arsenal were awarded the second spot-kick of the match for a handball by Michail Antonio, but Bukayo Saka missed the target on 52 minutes.

Saka’s failure to convert would prove costly, as just two minutes later, Jarrod Bowen swept in to pull the Hammers level.

West Ham came close to a late winner, but Antonio’s header came back off the woodwork.

It is the first time that Arsenal have given up a two-goal lead in consecutive Premier League matches, making them only the fifth side to do so in the competition's history.

Arsenal remain top on 74 points, four more than Man City, but having played a match more.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
1	Man City MCI	38	+61	89
2	Arsenal ARS	38	+45	84

The Gunners are next in action on Friday, when they host bottom side Southampton, while Man City's next Premier League match is on 26 April, when Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium in what looks set to be a title-defining showdown.

West Ham sit 15th on 31 points, four clear of the bottom three.

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
12	Chelsea CHE	38	-9	44
13	Wolves WOL	38	-27	41
14	West Ham WHU	38	-13	40
15	Bournemouth BOU	38	-34	39
16	Nott'm Forest NFO	38	-30	38
17	Everton EVE	38	-23	36
18	Leicester LEI	38	-17	34
19	Leeds LEE	38	-30	31
20	Southampton SOU	38	-37	25

United go third

Goals in either half from Antony and Diogo Dalot helped Manchester United earn a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest for their third successive Premier League victory, taking them up to third in the table.

NFO

0-2

MUN

TV Info - Broadcasters

Man Utd went in front just after the half-hour when Antony tapped in after Keylor Navas could only parry Anthony Martial's initial effort.

In the second half, Bruno Fernandes had a shot superbly tipped on to the crossbar by Navas, before the visitors doubled their lead on 76 minutes.

Antony ran at the Forest defence before playing a clever ball into the path of Dalot, who slotted in for his first Premier League goal, and Antony's first assist in the competition.

The result moves Man Utd on to 59 points, six clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.