Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday gave Arsenal the chance to narrow the gap to five points behind Arne Slot’s team before the Reds’ match against Manchester City on Sunday.
However, the Gunners missed this opportunity as Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t break down West Ham, who had conceded five goals in their previous encounter in November.
Mikel Merino, who scored the winner for Arsenal at Leicester City last weekend, started in attack alongside Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri. But he couldn’t replicate his previous impact, as Arsenal managed just two shots on target.
Jarrod Bowen showed the kind of attacking sharpness that Arsenal lacked just before half-time. He collected the ball near his own box, passed to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and then latched onto the full-back’s cross to score his 50th Premier League goal.
Arsenal’s disappointing day worsened when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s yellow card for fouling Mohammed Kudus was upgraded to a red after the VAR determined the teenager had denied Kudus a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
If Slot’s team wins at the Etihad on Sunday, they will go 11 points ahead of Arsenal, who face high-flying Nottingham Forest midweek.
