Arsenal Beat West Ham To Tighten Grip On Top-Four. Arsenal recovered a Champions League spot from Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Tottenham had beaten Leicester earlier in the day to move up to fourth, a spot and a point ahead of their north London rivals, before kick-off.
Despite a sluggish start from both sides, Rod Holding scored his first Arsenal Premier League goal in 40 minutes, only for West Ham to equalize moments later through Jarrod Bowen, who has now scored ten league goals this season.
However, Gabriel headed home from a Gabriel Martinelli cross early in the second half to put Arsenal back in front, and the Gunners then strolled to an important away victory.
Three 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 points!
⚒️ 1-2 🟡 (FT)#WHUARS pic.twitter.com/FPT0MGo9Yr
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 1, 2022
Arsenal has reclaimed the lead in the race for the top four, with the Gunners currently two points ahead of Spurs, while West Ham is in eighth, three points behind Manchester United. Arteta’s side faces Leeds next weekend before hosting Tottenham 10 days before the season’s finish in a game that will largely decide which north London club secures the final Champions League spot.
The Gunners’ Champions League ambitions were severely harmed by three consecutive defeats last month, and the general belief was that the strain of securing an unexpected Champions League spot was having an effect on this young team.
However, today’s success came on the heels of victories over Manchester United and Chelsea.
Arsenal has performed well when needed in all three games, but they have also been willing to participate in some of football’s black powers, especially time squandering.