Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after David Raya starred and Leandro Trossard struck late on in a nerve-jangling 1-0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
In a moment of high-drama at the culmination of a gripping London derby, Callum Wilson appeared to have cancelled out Trossard’s effort, a goal which would have had seismic ramifications at both ends of the division.
West Ham substitute Pablo was adjudged to have fouled Raya in the build-up following a lengthy VAR check, though, as the Gunners were handed a huge let-off to move one giant step closer to a first title in 22 years.
While forty points separated the two teams ahead of kick-off, it proved an almighty challenge for the leaders, with Nuno Esperito Santo’s side standing strong until the closing stages.
The relegation-threatened Irons had chances of their own to open the scoring as Crysencio Summerville and Valentin Castellanos both squandered inviting opportunities towards the end of the first half.
But Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard came on and created the assist for Trossard’s deflected 83rd-minute winner, ensuring the visitors took maximum points from an absorbing contest, with only two games remaining of the top-flight campaign.
The result comes as a major blow to second-placed Manchester City, who had cruised to a comfortable victory over Brentford earlier in the weekend.
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The first serious opportunity of the derby fell to Riccardo Calafiori after an exquisite outside-of-the-boot pass from Trossard in the ninth minute, but the Italian’s effort was directed behind by the Konstantinos Mavarapanos.
The lively Trossard was at the heart of the action from a corner moments later, only to be denied twice in quick succession by Mads Hermansen and then by the upright.
Calafiori dusted himself off and worked another opening five minutes on from his earlier miss, but the outcome was the same as the defender’s 25-yard strike swerved narrowly wide of the target.
Yet more frustration followed for the visitors in the 15th minute as former Gunner Mavropanos flung out a boot to keep out Declan Rice’s goal-bound free-kick from the left flank.
The hosts dug deep and rallied after Arsenal’s strong start and squandered two huge chances of their own at the end of the first half through Crysencio Summerville and Valentin Castellanos.
Jarrod Bowen struck straight at David Raya as West Ham picked up where they left off in the second period, before Bukayo Saka blazed over a wild shot at the other end.
Raya once again underlined his world-class credentials with a top save to deny Fernandes in the 78th minute and Arsenal capitalised soon after as Trossard broke the deadlock to cue rapturous scenes in the away end.
But the drama was not over there, as Wilson appeared to equalise at the death, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul from Pablo on Raya in the build-up.
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