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Football history is littered with fateful moments that convince you that a certain outcome is a foregone conclusion, and Arsenal’s seismic victory over West Ham can be added to that long list.
The Gunners needed a late goal and a controversial VAR review to edge out the relegation-threatened Hammers in a ridiculously dramatic conclusion to the London derby.
If ever there was a match to persuade Arsenal fans and neutrals alike that the club’s agonizing 22-year wait for a league title was coming to an end, it was this one: a dysfunctional, ugly performance where injuries and tactical errors allowed the underdogs to take the lead, before the Gunners were rescued by a player who hadn’t scored in 26 games via a deflected shot with just seven minutes left on the clock.
And if that weren’t already fateful enough, of course, there was more incredible drama to come when Callum Wilson’s 95th-minute potential equalizer was controversially overturned following a nearly four-minute VAR review that must have seemed like an eternity to those in the away camp at the London Stadium.
The win and the nature of it means that even the most pessimistic Arsenal supporter will begin to believe that this really is their year, with just two games left and both facing teams currently in the bottom six.
Season-Defining Drama
The final scenario of Sunday’s clash defined the season for Arsenal; this could be his ‘Aguerooo’, his Robin van Persie volley, his Vincent Kompany scream.
And it was fitting, really, that the two moments that could very well give the title to this particular team were so unsightly.
Mikel Arteta’s men have been ridiculed all season for the nature in which they have achieved victories, maximizing set pieces and finding a way to win by any means necessary.
It was fitting, then, that it was a deflected strike and a refereeing decision focusing on a near-universal fight from a corner that ensured they picked up a seismic three points at West Ham’s expense.
Leandro Trossard had not scored in 26 games when he appeared to sweep away a Martin Odegaard pass via a great deflection from Tomas Soucek with just seven minutes left on the clock, restoring Arsenal’s five-point lead over Manchester City at the end.
But of course, that moment of high drama would be trumped by a VAR review forever.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time the ball finally fell to Wilson from a corner and he sent the ball home despite the best efforts of Declan Rice behind the goal line.
But West Ham were denied their own moment of euphoria, while Arsenal fans were given another, as VAR recommended a review and referee Chris Kavanagh disallowed the goal after an excruciating review by the pitch-side monitor.
Striker Pablo was deemed to have fouled goalkeeper David Raya by grabbing his arm as he attempted to claim the initial cross.
When we look back on the 2025-26 title race, this could well be the moment that defines it.
‘What a moment’
Understandably, Arteta could hardly believe what he had witnessed when he faced the media at his post-match press conference.
“What a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it has been for us, so full of emotions,” he said.
“I cannot praise enough the attitude, the desire, the courage and the quality of the team shown throughout this week because there was a lot at stake and today we knew how difficult it was going to be, against a team that is fighting for its life, against a club that has an incredible history.”
Arteta continued: “A call from the referees that I think is very brave, but very consistent with what they have been talking about all season. When I have to be critical, I have been, and today I have to praise them at least for giving a referee the option to decide, away from the lights and chaos, to give him clarity to make the right decision.
“When you look at the action that way, I think it’s an obvious mistake, it’s a free kick and the goal has to be disallowed, so congratulations, because they made a great decision in very, very difficult circumstances.
Manchester City’s mishap
There was already a feeling long before kick-off on Sunday that Arsenal had finally taken full control of the title race, and the nature of the vital victory will go some way to cementing their status as favorites with just 180 minutes between them and a first Premier League crown in 22 painful years.
Man City have put a lot of pressure on them, cutting into what was once a healthy lead at the top of the table to close in on their faltering rivals in time for the showdown, but unlike years past, their resurgence could have lost steam at the worst possible time.
In truth, they are paying for a bad start to the campaign, since they have a lot left to do.
Pep Guardiola’s men could have done the job against Brentford on Saturday as they eventually won 3-0 thanks to a half-hour second-half charge.
Last week’s frenetic draw against Everton – another crazy encounter that could well go down in Arsenal history – looks increasingly damaging as they run out of games to close the gap.
It is a result that had been in the cards for City, who had been off the mark in previous narrow league and FA Cup wins over Burnley and Southampton respectively.
Arsenal’s chances are also boosted by their rivals’ schedule; The Cityzens face a run of four games in 11 days after reaching the cup final, including an awkward trip to European hopefuls Bournemouth and hosting Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on the final day.
Two games left
Arsenal’s season, meanwhile, is reduced to three more games: Burnley at the Emirates, Crystal Palace away on the final day and the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
They could hardly ask for a more favorable streak at the national level to overcome the goal, and the motivation is enormous; The Clarets, of course, are already relegated and could be forgiven for looking to the future.
While the generally intimidating nature of a trip to Selhurst Park is tempered by the fact that the Eagles will surely rotate ahead of their own European final three days later in the Conference League.
Arsenal’s biggest challenge, then, will be to overcome the inevitable nerves to get the job done in two winnable league games.
They could even afford to draw a game, depending on goal difference and City’s results, although it’s not worth thinking about.
There’s also something to be said for the kind of momentum that a win like West Ham’s can bring; the Gunners can harness that energy all the way to the finish line.
Once league matters are settled, the north Londoners can look forward to a big showdown with PSG in Budapest, where they will be able to play without the mental shackles of the grueling title race.
‘The only important thing’
Arteta clearly recognizes that the change in energy will be hugely important for the rest of the campaign. It probably won’t be as planned, but it’s certainly something you’ll want to take advantage of as the club faces arguably the most important weeks in its history.
“It has been a phenomenal week in every sense,” continued the Spanish strategist.
“What the team has done, the way we have played, the way we have approached the games. Then what our fans have done for us this season, throughout the week and today too. It’s phenomenal, I think it changes the energy of the team and now we have to live in the present and think about Burnley because that’s the only important thing.
“There’s only two games left after that, and we created some great chances and didn’t score, and the team had to stay calm. And I knew they were going to have moments too, because they don’t need much to create problems around the box with the players they have and the setup they have. So, yeah, we sailed through that and I think it was a successful game.”
Written in the stars
The fateful nature of Sunday’s dramatic victory over West Ham, then, has put Arteta and this group of Arsenal players firmly on the path to immortality.
They have never been closer to ending the club’s long wait for a league crown and finally dispelling the “bottle jobs” label that has plagued them in the modern era, but with just two league games left against favorable opposition, the odds are in the Gunners’ favor.
After passing the ultimate test of their mettle, Arsenal surely have a hand on the famous trophy. Now, it’s about holding their nerve and riding the wave of momentum of what could well be the decisive match in their title fight, and moments that will be repeated again and again for years to come.
