West Ham 2-2 Arsenal: Premier League

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David Hytner’s report has just landed so I’ll sign off. It’s a sound read on a chaotic game that undulated with great momentum swings. As David says, “This was a game that Arsenal had in the palm of their hand.” In the end though, well, you know how it went.

Thanks all. Really enjoyed that. Hope you did too.

Looking forward to the next one.

Dan

I’m with James from AFTV. I thought taking off Jesus felt odd at the time and so it proved. They lacked thrust and took far too long to introduce Nketiah.

Maybe Arsenal can play the rest of their games on a Saturday?

Updated at 11.23 EDT

Bilal Ahmed Shariff is keeping the faith:

“I think its worth noting that its still in Arsenal’s hands, if they can avoid defeat to City. Last season, City also drew to West Ham 2-2 very late in the season when very few expected them to drop points. On paper, City probably won’t drop points but this is football, never say never.”

It’s the first time a team leading the Premier League has let a two goal lead slip in two consecutive games.

Does that stat mean anything? Answer below for 10 marks.

Here’s Bowen and Antonio on Sky:

B: “It’s a massive point. Coming into this no one expected us to get anything from the game. We used that to our advantage. We got the crowd on our side. It wasn’t the start we wanted. We dug in and nearly nicked it at the end.”

A: “With the pen, I think it’s harsh. My arm was just sticking out. But we take positives from the game. We take a point higher in the league and we take positives from that. Managed to get 2-2 with the leaders. Something to build on.”

B: “We started on the front foot. It was two lapses in concentration and we got punished for it. But the character in this group has never gone. It’s a massive point.

A: “Before the game we said we could get something. We started the game well. We didn’t give up. We kept going and had opportunities to win the game.”

Eagle Brosi (great name btw) is choosing to see a glass that is half full:

“I mean I get that this is a horrible crash and catastrophic for Arsenal and their title challenge.

“But personally I still think Pep has it in him to completely mess this up. He hates leftbacks, he hates forwards, and he hates players having fun and scoring. Surely Pep will sell Ake and then loan Haaland to Arsenal.”

John Potter sent this when Arsenal were still 2-1 up. To be fair to John, I didn’t think they’d blow it.

“For a few seasons Liverpool were the only team pushing Man City and their fans were calling ‘pool the greatest team ever.

“Arsenal are leading from the front this season, is Arteta getting the plaudits he deserves? Should Arsenal fans be more vocal about what an achievement it is matching Man City?”

I think Arteta is definitely getting credit. At the start of the campaign most Arsenal fans would have settled for fourth. That they’re still in the running this late on is beyond expectation.

Still, they’d need to win the league and maintain that challenge for a few years to be spoken of in those terms.

“Hi Daniel, So the great title race is now over and MC will romp away to win by 6 or 7 points and everyone will wonder what the fuss was about.”

I’m sure that’s been typed with Phillip Haran’s tongue firmly in his cheek, but perhaps that’s exactly how it’ll pan out?

Espen Bommen disagrees:

“Everybody taking about Arsenal having to beat City or win today to keep their title hopes alive. No they don’t. One point today is actually crucial. They need a result against City even if they win today as City’s goal difference is superior. Draw today, draw against City and it’s still completely in Arsenal’s hands.”

Look, you’d rather be top of the table than playing catch up. If it were any other team but this Haaland-led City I’d be on board. But, as I said yesterday, I can’t see them dropping any points for the rest of the season. They’re just so ruthless.

Full-Time: West Ham 2-2 Arsenal

When Arsenal took a 2-0 lead this had the makings of a walkover. But West Ham rallied and fully deserve a share of the points.

The headlines will focus on the two points dropped by title chasing Arsenal, who could have buried this game but Saka missed a penalty and the chance to make it 3-1.

A few minutes later Bowen equalised and it was the home side that looked more like bagging the winner.

Arsenal are still top with a four point cushion, though they’ve played a game more than Manchester City and must still go to the Etihad in 10 days’ time.

It’s a big point for West Ham who stay 15th but open some breathing room between themselves at the drop.

Reaction to come.

Eddie Nketiah at full-time looks gutted. A big shift in the title race? Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

Updated at 11.09 EDT

90+5 min: Corney is unleashed down the right and puts in a low cross. Holding hoists his clearance high and Arsenal break. But without much cohesion and West Ham file in behind. Trossard has a chance to shoot but that’s blocked. That’ll be that.

90+4 min: White hangs one to the back post. No one’s there. Fabianski grabs onto a loose ball. Arsenal running out of time.

90+3 min: Bowen’s in-swinger is a good one but it’s cleared. Cresswell nutmegs Nketiah and West Ham keep the ball alive. A slick move down the right almost creates the opening but Arsenal scramble to clear.

90+1 min: West Ham win a corner. They couldn’t. Could they?

90 min: Five minutes added. Vieira takes the free kick but it lacks any pace. Just floated up and the header towards goal is tame, allowing Fabianksi to fall on it without any fuss.

Rob Holding heads at goal. Photograph: David Loveday/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Updated at 10.54 EDT

89 min: Another move heavy on cute passes but lacking in anything of value comes to nothing for Arsenal. Nelson has it on the flank but doesn’t cross. Instead he moves it back infield and eventually Arsenal win a free kick in the middle of the park.

Nketiah finally comes on the field for Odegaard. Is that too late though?

West Ham also make a change. The penalty scorer Benrahma is replaced by Fornals.

88 min: Arsenal going nowhere. They’re exchanging passes around the half way line. No thrust or go-forward. What are they playing at?

It’s not happening for Bukayo Saka and Arsenal. Photograph: Matt Impey/Shutterstock

Updated at 10.50 EDT

87 min: Double switch for West Ham. Antonio makes way for Cornet and Paqueta leaves the field for Downes. Two of the brighter lights for the home side depart. Is that Moyes shutting up shop?

87 min: West Ham defending very deep. Arsenal playing in front of them. Nelson crosses with his right foot from the left and Saka rises to meet it but heads it wide.

86 min: Benhrama has a great chance to cross from the left after a loose ball lands at his feet. But he fluffs it. Shows how fragile this is for Arsenal.

84 min: West Ham still looking dangerous on the counter. Benrahma almost on the end of a swift ball forward.

Arsenal with another double change. Nelson and Vieira on for Tierney and Martinelli.

YELLOW! West Ham (Crewsswell, 82)

I’ll admit. I completely missed that one. But Cresswell is in the book.

83 min: Odegaard takes up a great position between the lines but his disguised pass is to nobody.

81 min: Antonio has hit the post! Or the crossbar rather. At the back post he’s peddling back on his heels on a tight angle and can’t keep it down to squeeze it into the net. Great ball from deep near the byline. I think that was Bowen.

81 min: Trossard with a cute forward ball. He can’t quite find a run of an attacking player ahead of him but that’s the go-forward that is needed.

79 min: Now West Ham are showing off. A Cruyff-like turn from Kehrer manoeuvres space inside his own half. The ball is launched forward for Antonio but the space is snuffed out. Arsenal back on the attack.

“Hi Daniel!”

Hey Robert Holmes.

“You’re a wonderful M-B-Mer and I would just like to tell you that me and my pals have been screaming “peno!” since I can remember and I’m 41 now. It’s definitely a thing in Ireland, anyway. Happy to concur with my fellow Holmes.”

That’s very kind, cheers mate. Next time I’m in Ireland I’ll be screaming ‘PENO!’ with the rest of you!

77 min: Tierney to the rescue. Bowen collects a ball on a diagonal run between the lines and cuts right and then left before firing a firm shot on the angle. Tierney diverts it behind for a corner after lunging well.

76 min: It’s all a bit rushed. Arsenal have to chase a winner but that clipped ball from Martinelli seemed more in hope than expectation. They’ll dominate possession for the rest of the game. Surely they back themselves to bag a goal if they keep the ball long enough? Credit to West Ham. They’ve been brilliant this half.

75 min: Getting nervy now for Arsenal. Thing is they just don’t look like scoring again. West Ham keeping them at arm’s length. They are late goal merchants though. This of course ain’t over.

“It’s called a peno or penno in Ireland,” says Craig Sinnamon.

Well that’s me told. Thanks for putting me straight.

73 min: Odegaard playing deeper, linking with Jorginho. But there’s no thrust until they go wide, which will suit West Ham now that there isn’t a genuine striker on the pitch for the Gunners. Nketiah time?

72 min: Jorginho on the ball. Trossard also involved. They’ve both had an impact but no penetration just yet. Trossard shifts it wide for Martinelli. The ball comes in from Tierney and Zouma clears with a firm header.

Rick Harris has seen this movie before:

“I watched United surge to 2-0 against Sevilla and then Anthony’s shot rebounded off the post and Malacia dithered and failed to score to put them 3-0 up and the game to bed. Arsenal have done exactly the same today letting West Ham back into a game they should have never had a sniff in.

“Looks like they will have to beat City at the Etihad to keep their title hopes alive.”

70 min: Rice does well to win the ball high up the field but Arsenal break. It’s a 3-2 with Saka on the ball. The space doesn’t open up, he can’t pass or shoot until he runs out of options and slips as he trickles a tame effort straight to Fabianski.

68 min: Quick feet in midfield from Trossard allows him to free up Odegaard but West Ham’s pressing wins the ball back. Arsenal need to keep the ball for longer. That’s why Jorginho is on. Their midfield has disintegrated.

66 mins: A double change for Arsenal. Their best player, Jesus, and their worst player, Partey, both make way. Trossard and Jorginho on.

Lucas Paqueta battles with Jorginho for the ball. Photograph: John Walton/PA

Updated at 10.42 EDT

65 min: Arsenal’s corner comes to nothing. At least as far as Arsenal is concerned because Antonio is galloping upfield. All the way to the far corner where he wins a throw in.

64 min: A spring in West Ham’s step sees them pressing high up the pitch. Arsenal can barely get out of their own third. Eventually they do and Partey has the ball. White feeds Jesus who slides in Tierney. The cut back fizzes all the way to Saka who clips towards the back post but Bowen is there to see it out before Jesus can steal in.

Gabriel Jesus misses a great chance to score! Photograph: Tony Obrien/Reuters

Updated at 10.29 EDT

63 min: Coufal’s long throw again. That’s been such a fun theme in this game. It’s a Premier League game contested by two of the richest clubs in the world and a good ol’ long throw has been a feature. Zouma meets it but can’t steer it towards goal.

VAR, what is it good for, asks Chris Lambert:

“I’m not asking the point of VAR, because it makes sense to have the system… but I am desperately asking whose hand is meant to be on the tiller and why they’re playing absentee-landlord while the whole thing becomes an endless monument to incompetence.”

“Shooting from anywhere inside the box now has an added ‘back-door’ hand ball peno (couldn’t resist!) chance. When all other options are expelled, punt it and try to get a pen-oh.”

That’s from Richard Holmes. Is ‘peno’ a thing?

60 min: One for the stats nerds. That’s Bowen’s third consecutive home goal against Arsenal. The Gunners now taking their time to build and exchange a few passes but Odegaard sweeps the ball straight out of play to jeers from the crowd.

58 min: Oooh, that was a chance. Holding came out to header a long ball but didn’t catch it. That meant there was space behind him. If only Paqueta’s header was better directed, Antonio might have been in.

57 min: Arsenal need to take a beat here. They’re losing the battle of vibes. They’re a better team than West Ham but on sheer energy they’re third best in a two horse race. West Ham moving the ball really well in midfield with Paqueta seemingly everywhere.

56 min: Once again Arsenal are level at 2-2 after leading 2-0. It’s all West Ham. Antonio is weaving on the right flank. Good build up finds Bowen down the right and he puts in a wonderful ball to the far post. No one is there but Benhrama wasn’t far away.

A Coufal long throw finally yields a goal. It wasn’t directly from the throw, that was met by a strong Gabriel header. But the returning ball from Kehrer found Bowen unmarked and he swept it past Ramsdale. Questions over the ‘keeper who perhaps should have done better.

GOAL! West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (Bowen, 54)

What an extraordinary five minutes! Arsenal miss a penalty and West Ham equalise in the blink of an eye. Bowen at the back post blasts it into the ned. It’s a long ball back in the mix and Gabriel is playing him on side. Bowen volleys into the ground and it has enough to get past Ramsdale.

Jarrod Bowen scores! Photograph: David Loveday/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Updated at 10.18 EDT

Saka misses the penalty!

Oh wow! What a moment. It’s a terrible penalty from Saka. He opens his body and searches for the top left corner but skews it well wide. Are we going to talk about that come the end of the season?

Bukayo Saka has put it wide! Photograph: David Loveday/TGS Photo/Shutterstock

Updated at 10.14 EDT

50 min: PENALTY ARSENAL! So unlucky. Antonio, charging out to block a shot from Martinelli, has his arm away from his body and it’s a clear penalty. Not much he could do about that, he was so close to the strike, but them’s the rules.

49 min: Free kick for Arsenal from a handy spot on the left after a Zouma handball. Odegaard over it with his left foot. It’s a good dink into the mixer. A header out doesn’t clear the box and Saka shoots first time but it’s deflected for a corner.