Arsenal claimed top spot with a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham at London Stadium, with Leandro Trossard's 83rd-minute strike proving decisive in a match the Gunners controlled throughout.
Arsenal traveled to East London with a one-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. West Ham sat 18th, fighting for survival with just 36 points from 35 matches. The contrast in form was stark, with Arsenal unbeaten in their last two games while the Hammers had won just one of their previous five.
The opening stages saw Arsenal dominate possession immediately. The visitors controlled the ball with 64 percent possession as West Ham sat deep and looked to hit on the break. Arsenal's passing accuracy of 82 percent showcased their control, though clear-cut chances proved hard to come by early on.
West Ham's defense held firm despite constant Arsenal pressure. In the 34th minute, Tomas Castellanos picked up a yellow card for a reckless challenge. Moments later, Crysencio Summerville also received a booking in the 38th minute as the Hammers' frustration grew.
The first half ended goalless, though Arsenal had created the better opportunities. Arsenal registered four shots on target compared to West Ham's three. Konstantinos Mavropanos stood out for the hosts, earning an 8.2 rating for his defensive work despite the pressure his team faced.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Arsenal continued to probe for an opening while West Ham remained compact and organized. In the 68th minute, Jean-Todibo received a yellow card for West Ham as tensions remained high on the pitch.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 83rd minute when Trossard struck. The Belgian winger collected the ball and fired past the West Ham goalkeeper to send the Arsenal fans into celebration. Trossard finished with a rating of 7.9 and two shots on target from three attempts.
West Ham pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages but Arsenal's defense held strong. William Saliba and David Raya combined well to keep the hosts at bay. Trossard picked up a yellow card in the 90+2nd minute for time-wasting as Arsenal saw out the result.
The statistics told the story of Arsenal's superiority. The Gunners attempted 15 shots compared to West Ham's eight, with both teams generating similar expected goals around 1.3. Arsenal completed 502 passes with 82 percent accuracy while West Ham managed 274 passes at 67 percent.
This victory moved Arsenal to 76 points from 35 matches, maintaining their position at the top of the table. West Ham remained 18th with 36 points from 35 games, their survival hopes hanging by a thread with three matches remaining in the season.
