EPL Roundup: Arsenal held by West Ham; United down Forest
ARSENAL 2, WEST HAM 2
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Another week, one other Arsenal stumble.
Mikel Arteta has a job on his arms to verify his group’s title problem doesn’t go the identical means.
It was a case of historical past repeating itself because the Premier League leaders let one other two-goal lead slip and dropped beneficial factors for the second week in a row. A 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday adopted the identical scoreline in opposition to Liverpool seven days earlier.
It’s a pricey behavior to select up, particularly at a time when the wins are rolling in for second-place Manchester City.
While all of it seems to be really easy for defending champion City, which recorded a tenth straight victory in all competitions by beating Leicester 3-1 on Saturday, Arsenal’s kind is wobbling.
As if back-to-back attracts weren’t unhealthy sufficient for Arteta, it’s the nature of his group’s mini-meltdowns in opposition to Liverpool and West Ham that will probably be of most concern.
On each events, Arsenal was cruising. But on the London Stadium, identical to at Anfield, the Londoners unravelled when below strain.
“My worry is after 2-0 that we made that huge mistake and did not understand what the game required in that moment,” Arteta said. “We need that ruthless mindset to go kill a team and today we haven’t done it.”
Gabriel Jesus and captain Martin Odegaard appeared to place Arsenal heading in the right direction to maneuver six factors forward of City when each scored inside the primary 10 minutes.
That was till Said Benrahma’s penalty within the thirty third arrange a fightback and Jarrod Bowen equalized within the 54th.
In between Bukayo Saka missed a penalty which might have put Arsenal 3-1 forward.
Even after dropping 4 factors in two video games, Arsenal stays 4 factors away from City having performed a recreation extra. But its lead over City was eight factors lower than a month in the past.
City additionally has a greater objective distinction.
Arsenal performs City at Etihad Stadium in a pivotal recreation on April 26 and Arteta should hope the wounding latest outcomes is not going to be too damaging to his gamers’ confidence.
“We have to recollect we’re nonetheless prime of the league with all the pieces in our personal arms,” Odegaard stated.
MANCHESTER UNITED 2, NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0
Manchester United had a collapse of its personal in opposition to Sevilla within the Europa League when throwing away a two-goal lead to attract 2-2, however there was no repeat of that at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Leading 1-0 via Antony’s objective within the thirty second, Erik ten Hag’s group piled the strain on relegation-fighting Forest and sealed the 2-0 win via Diogo Dalot within the 76th.
Victory noticed United take benefit within the race for Champions League qualification after defeats for rivals Newcastle and Tottenham on Saturday.
United moved as much as third, three factors forward of Newcastle.
While Antony scored one objective and offered the help for one more, the return of Christian Eriksen for his first begin since hurting his ankle in January was a well timed enhance for Ten Hag because the accidents mount for United.
Marcel Sabitzer was a late withdrawal after selecting up an damage whereas warming up at City Ground. The on-loan Austrian midfielder joins Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw on the checklist of key absentees for United.
“You see how quickly things can change,” Ten Hag stated. “Last week we had nine top-fit defenders, today we had four. We need the numbers, we are one of the few teams in three competitions … We are in a lot of games, we need the numbers to stay in those competitions because we want to bring a good team every time onto the pitch.”
Eriksen solely began due to Sabitzer’s damage however seemed like he had by no means been away with an aesthetic efficiency within the coronary heart of midfield.
“It’s the nature, a natural talent, everything is going so smooth with him, so many skills, game understanding,” Ten Hag stated, including “when you bring on Christian it’s not a disadvantage for your team and he proved it.”
FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
While West Ham picked up a beneficial level in opposition to Arsenal to maneuver 4 factors from the relegation zone, Hammers supervisor David Moyes stated Saka’s penalty miss was an important second within the recreation.
“Sometimes the fine lines are so small,” Moyes stated. “They bought a penalty and at 3-1 it’s going to be tough. We bought a little bit of fortune, however then we grew and I fairly fancied us to get a 3rd one.”
Meanwhile, Forest supervisor Steve Cooper was dismayed by the failure to award his group a spot kick when United’s Harry Maguire appeared to deal with the ball with the sport nonetheless at 0-0.
“I am not going to say it is the absolute reason why we lost the game, but I think it is a definite penalty from Maguire and possibly a second yellow card and could be a game changer,” Cooper stated.
Forest stays within the backside three with Cooper below growing strain.
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