Arsenal edged past West Ham 2-1 in a dramatic encounter that kept the Gunners five points clear at the top of the Premier League, but the victory masked what Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp described as one of manager Mikel Arteta's poorest tactical decisions of the season. The win moved Arsenal closer to the title following Manchester City's 3-0 demolition of Brentford, placing the pressure firmly back on Arteta's side.
The decisive moment came when Martin Odegaard orchestrated a brilliant attacking move in the final stages, threading a pass to Leandro Trossard, who finished clinically through a crowded penalty area. However, Arsenal's path to victory was far more chaotic than the scoreline suggests. Goalkeeper David Raya produced a crucial save against Mateus Fernandes late in the contest, staying big in a one-versus-one situation when the hosts threatened an equaliser.
Tactical Gamble Nearly Backfires
Redknapp zeroed in on Arteta's decision to deploy Declan Rice at right-back for approximately 25 minutes, a move that forced cascading defensive reshuffles. The pundit suggested this gamble would have drawn significant criticism had Arsenal failed to claim three points. "If Arsenal hadn't won today and they didn't win the league, I think a lot of people would have looked at that moment when he put Declan Rice at right-back and said 'that's one of the worst decisions you could ever see a manager make,'" Redknapp explained on Sky Sports. The repositioning created a domino effect, requiring Martin Zubimendi to be substituted and forcing Myles Lewis-Skelly into an unfamiliar left-back role.
Redknapp praised Arteta's ability to correct course by halftime, bringing Odegaard into the fray and restabilising the team's shape. Yet the fundamental truth remained: Arsenal needed fortune to escape Upton Park unscathed. A potential West Ham equaliser was correctly ruled out by VAR after striker Pablo impeded Raya from claiming a cross, denying the Hammers a crucial lifeline.
Title Race Intensifies
With fixtures against Burnley and Crystal Palace remaining, Arsenal can secure the title with consecutive victories. The narrow escape against West Ham underscores both Arteta's tactical flexibility and the razor-thin margins separating triumph from disappointment in a crowded Premier League title race. How the manager navigates the final two games will determine whether this midweek wobble becomes a footnote or a turning point.
