BREAKING: West Ham Shock Arsenal At The Emirates To Suffer Title Setback—-Arsenal missed the chance to go back top of the Premier League as they succumbed to a shock home defeat to an impressive West Ham side. David Moyes’ men got a goal in each half – from Tomas Soucek and former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos respectively – as they pushed themselves up to sixth, above Manchester United. Mikel Arteta threw on Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe, but to no avail.
Konstantinos Mavropanos of West Ham United celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 28, 2023 in London, England.
Arsenal slumped to their first home defeat of the season in the Premier League as Tomas Soucek scored a contentious opening goal to help a well-drilled West Ham earn a 2-0 win – their first victory in the top flight at the Emirates since 2015.
Mikel Arteta’s side were denied the chance to return to the top of the table above Liverpool after VAR decided the ball was still in play when West Ham moved ahead against the run of play on 13 minutes.
An Emerson cross caused havoc in the home defence as Jarrod Bowen reacted quickest to flick the loose ball back across goal for Soucek to slam into the empty net.
A delay of three minutes was needed for referee Michael Oliver before VAR confirmed the goal after failing to find conclusive proof that it had gone out, as Bowen set up his team-mate for a fifth league goal of the season.
Despite being pressed back for large swathes of the match, West Ham sealed a memorable triumph when former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos rose to power a header in off the bar from a James Ward-Prowse corner for his first Premier League goal on 55 minutes.
Home keeper David Raya saved a penalty kick from Said Benrahma at the death after former West Ham midfielder Declan Rice had felled Emerson in injury time, but by then the three points were already on their way to East London.
David Moyes’ men move above Manchester United into sixth in the table with a third straight win, three points behind Spurs in fifth, while Arsenal remain two points behind leaders Liverpool at the halfway stage of the campaign.
