Key stats
- Arsenal have scored 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Liverpool (19) and Brentford (18) have scored more in the Premier League this season.
- Leandro Trossard has now scored six goals in the Premier League this season, netting for the first time since 30th December 2025 against Aston Villa.
- Arsenal have only lost one game after scoring the first goal in a Premier League fixture this season, a 2-3 loss to Manchester United on 25th January 2026.
Highlights
Analysis
Arsenal were unable to make their first-half pressure count with a goal, but scored at a crucial time to claim all three points.
Match report
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side could have been forgiven for any feelings of trepidation when they hosted an Arsenal team seemingly with the bit between their teeth in pursuit of a first title in 22 years.
The Gunners came within inches of scoring inside the opening 10 minutes when Mads Hermansen tipped away Leandro Trossard’s header, before the Belgian’s second attempt cannoned off the post.
Konstantinos Mavropanos then did well to block Riccardo Calafiori’s glancing header from Declan Rice’s free-kick, with the Hammers defence kept firmly on their toes.
However, not all was going to plan for Mikel Arteta’s side after Ben White was taken off injured, replaced by Martín Zubimendi following a challenge with Crysencio Summerville.
And with Rice surprisingly shifted to right-back, the Hammers sensed an opportunity to strike first through Summerville, who surged forward before firing wide.
The hosts ended the half encouragingly, as David Raya made a fine save to push away Taty Castellanos’ header after the Argentine was superbly picked out by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the end of an absorbing first half.
Arteta made another tactical reshuffle ahead of the restart by introducing Cristhian Mosquera for Calafiori and allowing Rice to return to midfield, but that could not prevent the Gunners from making a sluggish start to the second half.
The scrappy nature of proceedings definitely suited West Ham better, and substitute Pablo almost gave a huge boost to their survival aspirations when he prodded wide from El Hadji Malick Diouf’s enticing cross.
Espírito Santo’s side had an even better opportunity to take the lead when Raya made a superb point-blank save to deny Mateus Fernandes, as Arsenal’s title hopes flashed before their eyes.
That would prove to be a defining moment, as Trossard netted his first goal of the calendar year with a deflected close-range strike from Martin Ødegaard’s cut-back, keeping the PL title within their clutches and opening the trap door a little bit further for West Ham.
There was still time for some agonising late drama, as Callum Wilson fired home at the death to initially give the hosts a potentially crucial moment, but Pablo was penalised for a foul on Raya and Arsenal held on for three dramatic points.
It was a crushing blow for the Hammers, who remain a point adrift of Tottenham Hotspur, having played a game more than their survival rivals.
Meanwhile, these three points for Arsenal cap off a wonderful week for the Gunners, whose dreams of a PL and UEFA Champions League double remain well within their grasp.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham United)
Post-match comments
Arsenal's hero Leandro Trossard says his goal celebration was "just pure joy" after the Gunners took a big step towards the title.
"Just pure joy, because we knew what we had to do, and that's win today," he told Sky Sports.
"We created some chances in the first half. It was tough work because we know what they are fighting for as well, and it's a tough ground to come to.
"I knew at that moment it got us in front, and we had to just keep the clean sheet.
"Obviously it's a great time to score and get the win today. It's another two games for us, and hopefully something nice is waiting for us."
He revealed Daivd Raya reassured him the late West Ham goal would be ruled out by VAR.
"David said straight away it has to be 100% no goal," he said. "So I had a lot of faith at that moment, I believed, because he was pretty convincing. But yeah, you never know.
"And then you're thinking it's not going our way. Luckily it was a foul, and we won the game."
On Raya's crucial save before the drama unfolded, Trossard said: "He has helped us a lot already this season, and you can see his quality in goal, the amount of saves he can do - and also different types. So yeah, a lot a lot of credit to him for keeping us in the game."
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen was unsurprisingly deflated at full-time, and said he disagreed with the decision to rule out his side's late goal.
"A real blow. We thought we'd done so well to get back in it and had it taken away from us," he told BBC Sport.
"When you look at the screen for five minutes you'll find something - a lot of grappling and a lot of holding. I'm sure if you look long enough you'll find something. Do I think it's the right decision? No.
"Frustration. Where's the consistency? As a fan you don't want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it's taken off you.
"Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That's why everyone loves it. You have to expect contact at corners.
"If you give that you have to give all the holding calls in the world and that's not the way people want the game to go down.
"I don't want to sound bitter but last week we had one with Tomas Soucek held at Brentford and we didn't get a penalty. But then you can't give one like that today."
On the prospect of staying up, he told Sky Sports: "We have lost the game, but we kept in there and were really in the game. Regardless of the decision, we have lost the game and it is a point we have lost.
"It is do or die. We can't be defeated, this cannot be it. We keep going."