Arsenal reclaimed fourth spot place in the English Premier League after beating fellow London side West Ham United. The victory was very important for Arsenal as it restored them to the Champions League spot and dented the Hammers’ chances of securing European football next season.
Arsenal Beat West Ham to return to Champions League Spot
The Gunners knew only a win would lift them back into the Champions League places after Tottenham beat Leicester 3-1 earlier in the afternoon, but Mikel Arteta’s side responded by grinding out a vital three points at London Stadium.
It was Arteta’s center-backs who came up with the goods, with Gabriel Magalhaes nodding the winner early in the second half after Rob Holding had opened the scoring from Bukayo Saka’s 38th-minute corner.
Jarrod Bowen did pull the Hammers level just a few minutes before the break. He controlled Vladimir Coufal’s cross and squeezed a strike into the bottom corner in what was a reward for a strong first-half performance.
But David Moyes’ side failed to reach those levels after going behind for a second time – and defeat leaves them seventh, three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United with three games remaining for the 2021/22 season to be over.
