Odegaard and Raya rise to occasion to keep Arsenal in control of title race

Football writer Alex Keble assesses Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday.

An emotional rollercoaster at the London Stadium had hearts in mouths at the top and bottom ends of the table as Arsenal and West Ham United produced one of the most anxious and dramatic matches of the Premier League season so far.

David Raya’s big save, Leandro Trossard’s goal, Gabriel’s phenomenal injury-time block, and a VAR decision to overturn a late Callum Wilson equaliser: four huge moments decided Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over West Ham – and, perhaps, the destination of the 2025/26 Premier League title.

There is of course time for the script to change again, but Arsenal have retained control of the title race by winning, on paper, their toughest remaining game.

From here, the task is clear: win twice – at home against 19th-placed Burnley and away to Crystal Palace, three days before their Europa Conference League final – and there is nothing Manchester City can do to stop them from lifting the trophy.

Watch: Trossard’s late winner v West Ham

Sunday was not the final test, that would be overconfident, but it was the biggest. Everyone connected with Arsenal will back them to get over the line from here.

The way the Arsenal players collapsed to the turf at the full-time whistle said it all. This was another gruelling and exhausting game, played under immense pressure and, all things told, navigated expertly by Mikel Arteta’s side for their seventh 1-0 win of the Premier League season, their most in a campaign since 2004/05.

Odegaard and Raya rise to the occasion

A week ago it was Bukayo Saka’s return to the starting line-up following injury that inspired the victory over Fulham, their star man rising to the occasion and providing a reminder that injuries in attack are arguably the single biggest reason why the Gunners have been scoring fewer goals in 2026.

It was a similar story on Sunday, only this time Martin Odegaard was the difference-maker off the bench. West Ham’s low block and five-man defence had crowded Arsenal out for most of the game until Odegaard, 15 minutes after coming on, danced through a congested West Ham penalty area to assist Trossard’s winner.

Odegaard has only started 15 Premier League game this season and featured for 1,281 minutes (his fewest-ever in a full Arsenal season by at least 1,000) yet he has assisted six goals, the joint-most alongside Trossard.

That tells us just how crucial his creativity remains to this side and just how often Arsenal have had to cope without him. His comeback here, following on from Saka’s, only adds to the sense the stars are aligning; that this is Arsenal’s destiny.

Raya’s brilliant save from Mateus Fernandes, smothering the midfielder from six yards out not long before Trossard scored, was worth just as much to the Arsenal cause, as was Gabriel’s excellent block in the dying seconds.

“When you talk about magic moments, this is certainly one of the most needed moments to pull off with that save,” Arteta said.

“He was incredible. He’s made a few to be fair [this season], so that says how good he’s been.”

Arteta’s bold substitutions define both halves of the game

Individual moments might have won it for Arsenal, but praise also goes to Arteta for a series of substitutions that influenced events throughout the 90 minutes.

For a long time it looked as though Ben White’s first-half injury, and Arteta’s decision to move Declan Rice to right-back with Martin Zubimendi coming on in midfield, would be the defining moment of the match.

Arsenal had raced out of the blocks and seemed destined to get an opener before Rice was removed from midfield, which killed their momentum, left the visitors open to counters through the middle, and removed close support from Saka.

Before White’s injury, Arsenal had nine shots to West Ham’s zero. From that moment until the break, Arsenal had one shot to West Ham’s three.

Arteta moved quickly to correct that mistake at half-time by removing Riccardo Calafiori, who he subsequently revealed sustained an injury, with Cristhian Mosquera installed at right-back, allowing Rice to return to the middle.

Twenty minutes later, there was another bold call by Arteta as Odegaard and Kai Havertz came on for Zubimendi (a substitute who was substituted) and Eberechi Eze.

Odegaard’s hand in the goal justified the decision. Arteta was proactive and took risks. Ultimately, it paid off spectacularly. It’s a gamble that could end up winning Arsenal the title.

West Ham’s defeat gives Spurs a huge chance to boost safety hopes

But it only just worked, it should be said. West Ham had chances – an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.32 to Arsenal’s 1.37 – and but for Raya, Gabriel, and VAR, they would have taken at least a point.

Instead they left empty-handed and are now in need of a favour from Leeds United, who travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night.

Spurs are already one point above West Ham, and if they can make it four on Monday, they will very nearly be there.

Nottingham Forest and Leeds already are. West Ham’s defeat made both clubs mathematically safe, reducing the relegation battle to just two clubs, although there is plenty of time left for further twists and turns ahead.

As for the title race, the chances of drama have significantly reduced.

Arsenal have two games left. Both are inviting. Their fans – and neutrals, too – will now expect them to finish the job.