This season may not have always been visually stunning, but Arsenal now stands on the precipice of claiming their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The Gunners faced a tense battle yet again, securing a nail-biting 1-0 victory against West Ham, highlighted by an important goal from Leandro Trossard and a disallowed goal from West Ham that made the difference for Mikel Arteta’s team.
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This crucial win increased Arsenal’s lead to five points over Manchester City, who have a game in hand, thereby bringing the league trophy within reach after finishing second for three consecutive seasons.
Some observers might argue that Arteta’s squad has taken the hard route to this point, while others believe that the ability to grind out wins is the hallmark of true champions.
The 1-0 triumph over West Ham marks the seventh time this season that Arsenal has won by this scoreline in the Premier League.
This victory caps off a critical week for the club, particularly as title contenders Manchester City faltered midweek.
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Prior to their match against Fulham last weekend, Arsenal had only secured victories in two of their past eight matches across all competitions, experiencing back-to-back league losses during that stretch.
However, following three consecutive wins without conceding, including one that secured their place in the Champions League final, Arsenal stands on the verge of making history.
“What a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it has been for us,” Arteta reflected. “So full of emotions; I cannot praise enough the attitude, desire, courage, and quality the team displayed throughout this week. We knew we were up against a team fighting for their lives, a club with an incredible history, and how challenging it would be.”
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Key moments for Arsenal’s title pursuit?
The final minutes of the match against West Ham were nothing short of frantic.
David Raya made a crucial save to deny Hammers midfielder Mateus Fernandes, ensuring he did not score from a near-certain chance. This was followed by Trossard’s intervention and a major VAR decision that disallowed Callum Wilson’s goal in stoppage time due to a foul on Raya by Pablo.
Arteta described the disallowed goal as one of the “most chaotic circumstances,” noting both teams’ determination as they fought for their lives. He praised referee Chris Kavanagh for his decision.
“A call from the refs that required bravery, but is consistent with what has been emphasized all season. I must commend them for allowing the referee to make such an important decision,” Arteta stated.
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“In the midst of the chaos, providing clarity allowed him to make the correct call. Evaluating the action from that angle shows it was a clear error.”
Arteta consistently emphasizes the role of his substitutes, whom he terms ‘finishers,’ and validated this by praising captain Martin Odegaard for his “incredible impact” in assisting Trossard’s winning goal.
“I told the players we were going to go all out. So be prepared for changes if the game wasn’t unfolding as we desired,” he added.
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Raya Receives the Golden Glove
In a team pursuing both the Premier League and Champions League double, it’s rare for a goalkeeper to be in the running for player of the season. Yet, that’s precisely the case for the Gunners and Raya.
Arsenal has kept 18 clean sheets out of 36 league matches this season, leading all teams in the Premier League.
Thanks to his performance against West Ham, Raya has secured the Premier League Golden Glove for the third consecutive season; with three games remaining, no other goalkeeper can catch him.
With 27 clean sheets from 49 appearances across all competitions, he has earned the title of “best goalkeeper in the world” from his teammates for his outstanding performances.
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“He has been a tremendous asset for us this season,” said Trossard regarding Raya.
“His skills and the variety of saves he can execute are evident. He deserves considerable credit for keeping us in the game.”
Arteta echoed this, stating he couldn’t definitively say whether Raya’s save against Fernandes was the best of the season due to numerous remarkable stops he’s made.
“When discussing pivotal moments, this is undoubtedly one of the most critical saves; it was amazing,” Arteta remarked.
Raya currently holds the fourth-best goals conceded per match ratio among goalkeepers with at least 100 Premier League appearances, at 0.79, trailing only Petr Cech (0.72), Edwin van der Sar (0.76), and Ederson (0.78).
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With his personal accolade decided, Raya and Arsenal now aim for the Premier League trophy to follow suit.
Next target: Premier League Title?
Martin Odegaard provided the assist for Arsenal’s winner [Getty Images]
Arsenal knows precisely what is required: win their last two matches, and they will be crowned Premier League champions.
The upcoming fixtures are at home against already-relegated Burnley and away at Crystal Palace on the final day.
However, with the Eagles competing in the Conference League final after the Premier League concludes, there is a possibility that Arteta’s team could face a depleted squad as Oliver Glasner may rest key players.
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This season, the Gunners have played 60 matches across all competitions, notching up 42 wins and boasting a 70% win rate—the highest of any season in their history.
They are just three victories shy of achieving a historic Premier League and Champions League double.
“There’s no need for me to explain what’s at stake; everyone is aware,” Trossard stated.
“We have two crucial matches ahead, and we believe we can succeed, but we must work hard to secure three points in both games.”