Arsenal blew a two-goal lead for the second recreation in a row as Bukayo Saka’s penalty miss proved essential within the Premier League leaders’ damaging 2-2 draw towards West Ham on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta‘s facet struck twice within the first 10 minutes on the London Stadium because of targets from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

But simply seven days after squandering a 2-0 benefit of their 2-2 draw at Liverpool, the Gunners once more cracked beneath the stress of the title race.

Said Benrahma’s penalty lowered the deficit for West Ham earlier than the interval and after Saka fired his spot-kick large early within the second half, Jarrod Bowen volleyed in an equaliser for the struggling hosts.

It was a hammer blow for Arsenal, who sit 4 factors away from second-placed Manchester City however have ceded the title race momentum to Pep Guardiola’s crew.

“It started extremely well again. We scored two beautiful goals. After that we made a big mistake to not play with purpose to score the third and fourth,” Arteta mentioned.

“We just thought we could play around them and keep the result. That gave them hope.”

City had closed inside three factors of the Gunners after beating Leicester 3-1 on Saturday and it’s the champions who’ve the future of the title of their palms regardless of trailing Arsenal for a lot of the season.

City, who’ve received their final 10 matches in all competitions, have a recreation in hand on Arsenal.

With a house recreation towards Arsenal looming on April 26, City know they may carry a fifth title in six seasons in the event that they win their remaining eight matches.

By the time Arsenal journey to the Emirates Stadium they are going to be seven factors away from City in the event that they beat bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Friday.

Yet that hole would nonetheless look uncomfortably small to Arsenal followers fearing their crew are within the technique of losing a golden alternative to win a primary title since 2004.

While City are battle-tested in dealing with the strain of the title race, Arsenal’s younger squad look to be struggling an ill-timed assault of nerves.

“My worry is after 2-0 we made that huge mistake,” Arteta mentioned. “We didn’t understand what the game required in that moment. We need that ruthless mindset to go and kill a team.”

Arsenal wanted simply seven minutes to take the lead as Odegaard’s deft go discovered Ben White, who delivered a low cross that Jesus slotted house on the far put up.

Jesus’s fourth objective in his final three video games was adopted by the Gunners’ second three minutes later as they ruthlessly punished West Ham’s woeful marking.

Gabriel Martinelli‘s pin-point cross discovered Odegaard in acres of house and the midfielder blasted a volley previous Lukasz Fabianski from an acute angle six yards out.

The turning level got here within the thirty third minute when Arsenal, trying a bit over-confident after such a swaggering begin, needlessly conceded a penalty.

Thomas Partey surrendered possession to Declan Rice and when the West Ham midfielder picked out Lucas Paqueta’s run, Gabriel Magalhaes’ mistimed sliding sort out was appropriately dominated a penalty regardless of Arsenal appeals for handball.

Mohamed Salah had missed a penalty towards Arsenal final weekend, however they had been out of luck this time as Benrahma despatched Aaron Ramsdale the fallacious manner from the spot.

Saka ought to have eased Arsenal’s mounting nervousness when Antonio conceded a fiftieth minute penalty with an outstretched arm that blocked Martinelli’s flick.

But as a substitute Saka spiked the strain degree even greater with a woeful spot-kick that fully missed hit the goal, a expensive blunder that recalled the England ahead’s Euro 2020 remaining penalty shoot-out failure towards Italy.

Saka held his head in his palms and with Arsenal clearly rattled, David Moyes’ facet snatched an equaliser within the 54th minute.

Thilo Kehrer guided the ball into the Arsenal space and Bowen was simply onside as his volley ricocheted off the turf and skidded previous Ramsdale’s despairing dive.

Michail Antonio practically received it for West Ham within the closing phases, rising to move Benrahma’s cross towards the bar.

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