Arsenal saw their Premier League title charge take a significant hit as the Gunners let a two-goal lead slip for the second consecutive weekend. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard put Mikel Arteta's side in control, but in a repeat of the clash with Liverpool, the league leaders failed to add to their lead and instead dropped two points in the title race.
At Anfield last Sunday, Gabriel Martinelli and Jesus put Arsenal in command but goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino meant the Gunners had to settle for a point. Once again, in an away league fixture, Arsenal were two-up early on before their opponents pulled one back before half time with Said Benrahma netting from the penalty spot.
Against Jurgen Klopp's men, Arsenal were let off the hook as Salah missed a penalty but one week later it was Bukayo Saka who missed from 12 yards. Minutes later, Jarrod Bowen levelled the game while Michail Antonio could have put the Hammers in front late on but his close-range header struck the post.
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Dissecting the action on Sky Sports, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Roy Keane both pinpointed what was the cause of Arsenal's collapse for the second consecutive week. "Last week we kind of forgave them, in terms of oh well, it was at Liverpool and it’s a big ask," Keane said on Sky Sports. "The penalty decision, I agree with Antonio, I feel he was slightly unlucky, where is he supposed to put his arm?
"But listen, we’ve seen great players miss penalties and that happened again. Pressure? Yep, simple as that. He [Bukayo Saka] is a quality player. We saw Salah last week not even hit the target, it affects players.
"Again, he’s a brilliant player, he’ll respond to that like he always does, but a huge moment in terms of it being a big point for West Ham but also in the title race. West Ham deserved this in the second half, it was poor from Arsenal.
"We forgave them for last week as it was Liverpool but today it was self-inflicted, particularly with the penalty they gave away. I praised the goalkeeper last week, he got a hand to it [Bowen’s goal], I really think he should save that."
"This is self-inflicted, for me, from Arsenal," Hasselbaink said in agreement with Keane. "I expected so much more from West Ham. West Ham, if I look at them today, for me it’s a poor side, they [Arsenal] should have won easily.
"They were winning easily until it was two-nil, then it became too easy and after two-nil the intensity, the work rate, everything stopped from Arsenal and that’s why West Ham came into the game. The first goal West Ham scored is a big mistake from Partey and they just gave it away today."
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