Titles are decided in moments. There have been many of them for Arsenal<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Against Everton, it was Max Dowman’s late solo goal, becoming the youngest scorer in Premier League<\/a> history that sparked chaos. This weekend it was a combination of Leandro Trossard, David Raya<\/a> and VAR.<\/p>\n The Gunners have been the master of the set-piece this season and it was from a dead ball that their hopes of winning the league nearly came a cropper.<\/p>\n The aforementioned Raya came out to claim a West Ham corner but failed to take hold of possession. Arsenal then failed to clear and Callum Wilson bundled the ball over the line. There was pandemonium inside London Stadium but it did not last long.<\/p>\n While the Gunners are fighting for silverware, the Irons are hoping to preserve their top-flight status. It’s why Sunday’s VAR call was one of the biggest in English football history.<\/p>\n For the Hammers, they were on the wrong side of things. Arsenal were made to thank their lucky stars. Wilson may have scored but it was ruled out after West Ham forward, Pablo, was adjudged to have fouled Raya.<\/p>\n While that may not have sat right with the neutrals, there was no doubting the steely nature of Mikel Arteta’s side’s 1-0 win.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Raya remarkably kept his 18th clean sheet of the campaign on Sunday, he more than worked hard enough to secure it.<\/p>\n The hosts did not cut open Arsenal with ease but the Spanish goalkeeper stood up when it mattered most to demonstrate precisely why he’s been celebrated as the finest gloveman in the division.<\/p>\n One of the game’s deciding moments came deep into the second half when West Ham should have opened the scoring. Midfielder Mateus Fernandes edged into the penalty area, took a few touches and with the goal at his mercy, he really should have found the net.<\/p>\n But, Arsenal’s number 1 stood firm, he did not go to ground and instead made a top-drawer save that may well have just won Arsenal the title.<\/p>\n Had that gone in, the Gunners would really have been up against it. Instead, they were able to rally and find a winner through Trossard.<\/p>\n The Belgian has had a very tricky 2026 and that is putting it lightly. Coming into this clash, the 31-year-old had not scored for 25 consecutive games. It was the longest drought of his Arsenal career.<\/p>\n Yet, this goal was probably the most important and timely since he arrived at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n The strike may well have been scored by the winger but it was all about substitute Martin Odegaard. Like Trossard, the Norwegian has had a troubled campaign but delivered a reminder of just how good he was. The composure the club captain showed inside the penalty box to engineer the shooting chance for his teammate was simply sensational.<\/p>\n It really does feel like plenty of players who were out of form are really coming to the party at the back end of the season but sadly that is not true of everyone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In recent weeks this squad of players have really turned up when it matters most. After a post Carabao Cup final lull, the Gunners are back in the groove and they largely have their attack to thanks.<\/p>\n Last weekend Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka were back among the goals in a free-flowing attacking performance that was one of the team’s best all season.<\/p>\n Combine that with Trossard’s newfound form and the return of Myles Lewis-Skelly and it really does feel as though fresh life has been breathed into the Gunners.<\/p>\n That said, Lewis-Skelly’s return to prominence has come as bad news for Martin Zubimendi<\/a> who only showed on Sunday exactly why he’s not started the last three matches now.<\/p>\n Zubimendi did not start again on Sunday but was introduced earlier than Arteta would have liked when Ben White went off in the first half with an injury. It was in that moment where the entire game changed.<\/p>\n Up to that moment Arsenal had been comfortable but when the Spanish midfield entered the fray, with Declan Rice shifting to right-back, it led to all sorts of problems.<\/p>\n Zubimendi vs West Ham<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n Minutes played<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Touches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Accurate passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32\/37 (86%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Shots<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Key passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dribbles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Crosses<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Progressive carries<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Tackles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Interceptions<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Ground duels won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1\/2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Aerial duels won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 0\/3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n The midfielder ended up being bypassed regularly and a large part of that was due to Zubimendi. In truth, the summer arrival never really got into the game, notably having one fewer touch than Raya. He was unsurprisingly hauled off in the second half having been on the field for just 39 minutes.<\/p>\n Why was he withdrawn? Well, it was tactical in a bid to get another attacker in Kai Havertz onto the pitch but the fact of the matter is that the former Real Sociedad man offered nothing from the middle of the park.<\/p>\n There was a moment in the second half that particularly summed up his cameo. As Arsenal broke forward, the Spaniard had a simple pass to play into Eberechi Eze on the right who was ready to burst forward but he overplayed the ball and it went out of play.<\/p>\n In the last few months, Zubimendi’s performances have really started to wane. He’s looked knackered in all honesty and before last week’s match against Fulham, he had played more minutes than any outfield player in the squad.<\/p>\n It was perhaps a surprise to see him ommitted from the team. Indeed, in the first leg of the clash with Atletico the 27-year-old looked back to his best in a more advanced role. A key tweak in recent games from Arteta has been to deploy Rice as the number 6 with Zubimendi and now Lewis-Skelly as the 8. It’s an alteration that’s worked brilliantly, with reporter James Benge highlighting<\/a> that the Spain international looked a bit like Xhaka in that position.<\/p>\n During the first half of their 1-1 draw with Atleti in Madrid, he wrote: “There\u2019s something pleasantly retro about Arsenal\u2019s shape, the defensive midfielder splitting the centre-backs so the full backs can push on. Zubimendi, meanwhile, almost doing a low touch Xhaka role.”<\/p>\n At times, the \u00a360m arrival has looked like the Swiss in his Arsenal heyday, dicating play, breaking up possession but also contributing effectively in the final third.<\/p>\n Yet, after a disastrous cameo off the bench at the London Stadium, he should not start again this season, not even in the Champions League final at the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n How Trossard and Raya came to Arsenal’s rescue<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n![\"Raya-Arsenal\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/raya-arsenal.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Arsenal-Leandro-Trossard\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/arsenal-leandro-trossard.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n Arsenal’s new Xhaka must not start again this season<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n![\"Arsenal-Saka-West-Ham\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/arsenal-saka-west-ham.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
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\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"Zubimendi-Summerville\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/zubimendi-summerville.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Lewis-Skelly-Arsenal-Arteta\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lewis-skelly-arsenal-arteta.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
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![\"Arsenal-Saka-Odegaard-Havertz-Gabriel\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/arsenal-saka-odegaard-havertz-gabriel.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=220&h=124&dpr=2\"\/)
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