West Ham have dealt Arsenal a huge blow to their hopes of winning the Premier League after points were shared at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With a game in hand, the Gunners are now just fours points adrift of Manchester City in the title race following the reigning champions' emphatic win over Leicester City.
While the Premier League is still in Mikel Arteta's grasp, the north Londoners must face their title rivals once more in what is lining up to be a winner-takes-all fixture. Pep Guardiola's side will welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on April 26; the Gunners also have clashes against Chelsea, Newcastle and Brighton on the horizon too.
The north London outfit have a difficult run-in to the end of the season – and some outlets have suggested that their draw against West Ham has cost them the title. So, with that being said, football.london has had a look at what the national media made of Arsenal's result in east London.
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The Mirror
In the Mirror, it was said that Arsenal have become sloppy in recent weeks. John Cross wrote: "One is naive. Twice is downright stupidity. Within the space of a week, Arsenal have twice blown a two-goal lead, surrendered four points and are in danger of handing the title to Manchester City.
"But while you could almost excuse drawing at Liverpool last week, a carbon copy slip-up at West Ham is less easy to forgive, especially from a position of complete control. Of course Arteta can put a brave face on the result and say it is still in Arsenal’s hands.
"But only if they go and win at the Etihad a week on Wednesday. And that looks pretty unlikely. It even looks as if Arsenal have been spooked by City because Pep Guardiola’s winning streak has made them look untouchable."
The Telegraph
As for The Telegraph, they too slammed the Gunners for their naivety. Jason Burt wrote: "Two successive Sundays. Two 2-2 draws. Two points again discarded. Two games when a 2-0 lead was quickly established but ultimately surrendered.
"It is all beginning to look too, too much for Arsenal and their unexpected Premier League title challenge. The moments smacked of naivety (or arrogance?), even if they came from two such experienced midfielders in Xhaka and Partey.
"Arsenal extended their advantage at the top over Manchester City to four points and should make it seven when they host Southampton on Friday. But they will have played two games more and must face City away a week on Wednesday. There appears to have been a significant and maybe decisive shift in momentum in recent weeks when the pressure is on."
The Guardian
In the Guardian, they focused on how the title race has exhausted Arsenal mentally. Barney Ronay wrote: "Objects in the rear-view mirror may be closer than they seem. For what feels like at least a decade now, from way back in the early years of this endless Premier League season, Arsenal have maintained their lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, keeping that sky blue vessel of sporting perfection in the near slipstream all the way from autumn into spring.
"At the final whistle on a muggy, sullen afternoon at the London Stadium five of Arsenal’s outfield players slumped into the same position, bent at the waist, staying on their feet, but kidney-punched, feeling that wash of late-season nausea.
"A 2-2 draw here meant that an eight-point lead had become six points, had become four points and might yet become one point. That black-clad skinny-legged figure in the rear-view mirror, fists pumping, eyes bulging, has seemed distant at times. Glance back now and he’s right there, a single hand clamped down on the rear bumper, never breaking stride."
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