Arsenal's pursuit of Liverpool at the Premier League summit hit a major snag as they fell to a surprise defeat against 16th-placed West Ham United on Saturday.
Arsenal, grappling with injuries to key forwards including Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli, faced a further challenge when midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed with a red card.
West Ham seized the advantage in the 44th minute, thanks to Jarrod Bowen's strike, assisted by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Despite their efforts, Mikel Arteta’s squad couldn't find an equalizer, leaving them 7 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who are set to face Manchester City on Sunday.
Last week, Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino eased Arsenal's attacking woes with two late goals against Leicester City, securing a 2-0 victory that kept them in the title hunt.
Elsewhere in the Premier League on Saturday, Manchester United staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 2-2 draw at Everton. Trailing by two goals, United sparked a revival with Manuel Ugarte netting his first club goal in four years for the equalizer, following Bruno Fernandes’ precise free-kick.
United were on the brink of a third consecutive defeat under Ruben Amorim, after conceding first-half goals to Everton's Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
A late VAR review proved pivotal for United, overturning an awarded penalty against Harry Maguire in the dying minutes for an alleged foul on Ashley Young.