Arsenal once again leaned on their defensive resilience and a bit of good fortune to secure a gritty 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday, keeping their title dream alive. Mikel Arteta’s side is now just two victories away from claiming their first league championship in 22 years, a campaign defined more by grit and determination than attacking flair.
The crucial moment came when Leandro Trossard’s deflected strike in the 84th minute sparked wild celebrations among the away fans. West Ham thought they had equalized deep into stoppage time through Callum Wilson, but the goal was controversially ruled out after a foul on David Raya. Raya also made crucial saves to deny Mateus Fernandes and Taty Castellanos, preserving a clean sheet and three vital points. With a lead over Manchester City—who still have a game in hand—and only two matches left, the title is within Arsenal’s grasp.
Behind the scenes, however, questions linger about the team’s attacking output. Trossard’s goal was his first in 25 appearances across all competitions, ending a 128-day Premier League drought. Though crucial in the title race, it has put the Belgian under the spotlight. He is not the only attacker struggling—Gabriel Martinelli has managed just one league goal all season and has gone 232 days without finding the net in the competition, while Martin Ødegaard hasn’t scored in the league for 135 days. Even Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke have endured lengthy goal-less runs before finally breaking their ducks
