Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a hammer blow as Jarrod Bowen’s goal just before halftime gave London rivals West Ham United a surprise 1-0 away victory on Saturday (Feb 22). West Ham held on comfortably in the end to move 13 points clear of the bottom three and level with Manchester United in 15th – although they stay 16th because of their inferior goal difference.
Bowen headed in from close range in the 44th minute and Arsenal’s feeble attack, missing a host of injured forwards, never looked like salvaging anything as they suffered their first home league defeat of the season.
Arsenal barely troubled visiting keeper Alphonse Areola, managing two shots on target, and played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was red-carded for hauling down Mohammed Kudus.
Mikel Arteta’s second-placed side have 53 points from 26 games, eight behind leaders Liverpool who face champions Manchester City away on Sunday.
Brighton heap more misery on Southampton
Brighton & Hove Albion added to relegation-threatened Southampton’s woes with a 4-0 win at the St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, handing the Saints their eighth consecutive home defeat in the Premier League.
Brazilian Joao Pedro fired the visitors into the lead in the 23rd minute after a one-two with fellow forward Georginio Rutter, calmly chipping the ball over Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from 15 metres out.
Frenchman Rutter looked lively throughout and was rewarded for his efforts when he doubled Brighton’s lead in the 56th minute by tapping in Yankuba Minteh’s square pass. Kaoru Mitoma dinked over Ramsdale to make it 3-0 and Jack Hinshelwood added another goal to complete the rout.
Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just nine points from 26 matches, while Brighton move up to eighth with 40 points ahead of the weekend’s other fixtures.
