Premier LeagueArsenal 0-1 West Ham United
Saturday, 22nd February 2025
by Staff Writer
Just as it was 45 years ago at Wembley, a first half diving header from one of West Ham' favourite sons was enough to secure a vital win for West Ham against Arsenal.
This time however it was Jarrod Bowen - and not Trevor Brooking - scoring the goal that downed Mikel Arteta's sde, as the Hammers secured a second successive league win at the Emirates.The Hammers were, of course, the first away team to win at Arsenal's current ground back in 2007 - and since last year's 2-0 Christmas win, only one other team have left this part of north London with all three points in the bag.
Unlike that victory little more than 12 months ago, this was no backs-to-the-wall effort that saw the home side conjure a series of goalscoring opportunities - indeed, Alphonse Areola has surprisingly little to do against Arsenal's blunt attack.
Conversely Jarrod Bowen could have had a hat-trick himself, though in the end he had to settle for the goal that gave Graham Potter's side a much-deserved victory.
The goal arrived on the cusp of half time, as the hard-working Aaron Wan-Bissaka scampered away on the right flank before delivering a perfect cross that Bowen steered over the line with his head, having escaped the attentions of his predecessor as West Ham captain, Declan Rice.
And it was a strike that effectively put an and to a toothless Arsenal's faltering title hopes, with defeat leaving them 11 points behind leaders Liverpool at the end of the weekend's' roster.
Bowen could've put West Ham ahead earlier in the half when Wan-Bissaka provided a similar cross from the right which the skipper failed to gain a clean connection on, skewing the ball wide on that occasion.
And he was inches away from doubling West Ham's advantage in the second half when Aaron Cresswell's clever delivery arrived just too early for Bowen to place an outstretched boot on, with Arsenal 'keeper David Raya scrambling.
West Ham's task was helped considerably - eventually - when teenage substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed in the 73rd minute for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity just 17 minutes after entering the fray.
Eventually that is, because referee Craig Pawson inexplicably deemed the challenge - a hack at Mo Kudus on the half way, after he'd stolen the ball from the defender - worthy only of a caution, even though 'keeper Raya - the last line of defence - was 40 yards off his line.
Fortunately for West Ham, VAR did exactly what it was supposed to do and sent Pawson to the touchline in order to review the incident, from where he had little choice but to correct his glaring error.
Areola was probably the quieter of the two goalkeepers, although both he and Raya faced only two shots on target each in the entire match.
But that was all the Hammers needed to leave the Amirates will a much-needed, morale-boosting win - and three points that should help dispel any concerns about a late relegation battle.
West Ham Utd: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo (Mavropanos 62), Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles, Alvarez (Soler 88), Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Bowen (Ferguson 82), Kudus
Subs not used: Fabianski, Emerson, Rodr?-guez, Irving, Luis Guilherme, Ings
Goals: Bowen (44)
Booked: Todibo, Scarles, Ward-Prowse
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba (White 87), Gabriel, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly, 56), Partey, Rice (Zinchenko 56), Odegaard, Nwaneri (Sterling 81), Trossard, Merino
Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji
Booked: Partey
Sent off: Lewis-Skelly
Possession: AFC 68%-32% WHUFC
Shots/on target: AFC 20/2-5/2 WHUFC
xG: AFC 1.37-1.03 WHUFC
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 60,262
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Substitutes
Match Facts
West Ham United: , , , , , , , , , , .Goals: None.
Booked: None booked. .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Arsenal: .
Subs not used: .
Goals: .
Booked: None booked..
Sent off: None.
Referee: .
Attendance: 0.
Man of the Match: .