West Ham delivered a stunning blow to Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. The game was marred by controversy as Tomas Soucek's first-half goal raised questions about whether the ball had crossed the line, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood.
Returning to his former club, Konstantinos Mavropanos doubled West Ham's lead in the second half with a header from James Ward-Prowse's corner. Despite Arsenal's dominance in possession and numerous attempts, they failed to find the net.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration with the unclear technology, stating, "It's a shame that the technology is not clear enough. It's done, we move on." The Gunners, who ended the game with 30 shots, are now two points behind league leaders Liverpool.
West Ham's defensive resilience and counter-attacking prowess impressed manager David Moyes, who highlighted the importance of being solid defensively. Moyes remarked, "Everyone wants the goals. But there's another part of football, and it's to be good defensively. To be hard to break down. We showed that tonight."
The defeat raises questions about Arsenal's attacking prowess, with Arteta acknowledging the need to improve in front of goal. Arsenal's next challenge is a New Year's Eve clash against Fulham, while West Ham will face Brighton on Tuesday.
The main talking point remains the controversial opener, leaving Arsenal fans and pundits questioning the effectiveness of VAR technology. Despite the setback, the Gunners will look to regroup and bounce back in the upcoming fixtures.
