Arsenal Suffers League Set Back, Fails To Reclaim Top Spot As West Ham United Comes Top In London Derby.

Arsenal Suffers League Set Back, Fails To Reclaim Top Spot As West Ham Comes Top In London Derby.

By Olopade Sakiru

It was a disappointing outing for the fans of Arsenal last night as in-form West Ham United stunned Mikel Arteta's men by two goals to nill at the Emirates.

It was the first home defeat for Arsenal this season, coming at a time, they needed to win to reclaim the top stop.

Arsenal went into the game, business like, dictating the pace until 13th minute, against the run of play, when Tomas Soucek converted with a volley into the corner of the net from Jarrod Bowen's cross to break the deadlock.

The game was temporarily stopped for the VAR check to confirm the eligibility of the goal, with the claim that the ball had crossed the line in the build up to the goal but the referee allowed the goal to stand after a-three-and-a-half VAR check.

The goal will be the second one Arsenal have conceded that might have gone out of play this season. The first was against Newcastle at St'James Park.

Mikel Arteta's men continued to pile pressure on the visitors but to no avail.

The Gunners were relentless in their bid to get the much needed equalizer and probably get the winner, with Busayo Saka hitting the post and Gabriel Jesus, missing two big chances to get a win.

However, in the 55th minute, former Arsenal defender, Konstantinos Mavropanos headed in the second goal from the superb corner-kick, taken by James Ward Prowses to bring the game out of the reach of Arsenal.

All efforts by Arsenal were thwarted by West Ham United's shot stopper, Alphonse Areola, to deny home side from reclaiming the top position of the EPL.

Arsenal ended the game with 30 shots but couldn't find the back of the net.

What could have been the 3rd goal was a penalty saved by David Raya, taken by Said Benrahma after Declan Rice had brought down Emerson in the vital area.

With the defeat, Arsenal are now two points behind table topper, Liverpool while West Ham United have lept into the sixth position with three straight wins.