'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal pulled off a comeback for the ages, coming back from 3-0 down against West Ham to salvage a 3-3 draw at the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers missed the chance to go level with fourth-placed Chelsea, while Arsenal go above Aston Villa to ninth in the Premier League table.
West Ham began the game in superb fashion, barely letting Arsenal get a kick in the opening ten minutes. Jesse Lingard underlined the Hammers' dominance in the 16th minute, lashing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Lingard caught the Gunners' defense unawares a minute later, quickly taking a free-kick that Jarrod Bowen smashed in at Bernd Leno's near post. Tomas Soucek made it a scarcely believable 3-0 scoreline for David Moyes' side in the 32nd minute, prodding the ball into the net from Michail Antonio's goal-bound header.
Trending
Arsenal finally woke from their slumber in the 38th minute, with Alexandre Lacazette lashing home Calum Chambers' cross off of Tomas Soucek's foot into the net. Bukayo Saka spurned a couple of chances to reduce arrears, as the Gunners went into the break 3-1 behind.
Arsenal nearly scored once play resumed, with Lacazette watching in agony as his chip over Fabianski was cleared off the line by Issa Diop. They made their dominance pay in the 61st minute, with Craig Dawson turning in Calum Chambers' cross into his own net to make it 3-2.
West Ham then spurned three great chances to increase their lead as Kieran Tierney, Calum Chambers and Michail Antonio's wayward finishing rescued Arsenal. They were left to rue things as Arsenal equalized in the 82nd minute, as Lacazette powered in a far-post header from Nicolas Pepe's cross.
Both sides labored to score the winner in the final minutes, but there was no more drama to come as the game finished 3-3.
On that note, here are the major talking points from a thrilling game:
#1 A Premier League classic for the ages
Where do you even begin with that?
It was a game that could have easily finished 6-6 and that's no exaggeration. Both sides were left with conflicting emotions when the final whistle blew as they could have easily won and lost the game.
West Ham were left to rue Michail Antonio's miss from a yard out, while Arsenal will reflect on Bukayo Saka missing a one-on-one and Lacazette having a shot cleared off the line.
It was an amazing 90 minutes of football, with both managers on tenterhooks as they could not predict what their respective sides would come up with. This season of the Premier League has come up with its fair share of crazy games, and it's such a pity the fans aren't there to witness it.
#2 Jesse Lingard is a man reborn
Arsenal. Jesse Lingard in form.
There was only ever going to be one result. The Manchester United loanee reserves his best performances for the Gunners and it was no different today, scoring his fifth goal in his last seven games against Arsenal.
It's not just Arsenal that Lingard has been tormenting, though - he's arguably the most in-form player in the league right now. It's a far cry from the player who managed fewer goals in his last two years for Manchester United than in his nascent West Ham career.
If he keeps this up, Lingard won't just be looking at an England recall - West Ham could very well be playing in the UEFA Champions League.
#3 Martin Odegaard and Calum Chambers shine for the Gunners
The first 30 minutes may have enraged Mikel Arteta aplenty, but the Spaniard had plenty of positives to take from the latter hour of the game. Chief amongst the players who sparked the comeback for Arsenal were Martin Odegaard and Calum Chambers.
Odegaard was perhaps the best player on the pitch today, as he was at the heart of everything Arsenal were able to create, evading markers and tackles while also picking out some gorgeous passes. The Real Madrid loanee has quickly shown why the Gunners need to make signing him in the summer their no.1 priority.
Calum Chambers was drafted into the Arsenal backline for his height, but it was the Englishman's attacking prowess that ought to give Mikel Arteta food for thought. Chambers' delivery was pitch-perfect from the right as his crosses resulted in Arsenal's first two goals.
It's been an incredible comeback from a player who suffered an ACL injury and seemed to be on his way out of the club. Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares better be looking over their shoulder.
#4 David Moyes' Hammers can still grab fourth spot
While the West Ham boss may understandably be distraught at letting a three-goal lead slip, the Hammers boss can take heart from his side's first-half display. Jesse Lingard may have grabbed the headlines, but Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal were excellent.
One could very well say that UEFA Champions League clubs don't let such a lead slip, but West Ham can still have their eyes on making it to the competition. Chelsea and Liverpool are the Hammers' main opponents in the race for fourth-place, but given both sides are progressing deep in Europe, it could work in West Ham's favor.
The Hammers also have the advantage of a slightly easier run-in than Chelsea and Liverpool. If they are to achieve it though, it will be nothing short of a miracle. Maybe the Chosen One wasn't such a wrong choice after all.
#5 Arsenal have to focus on the Europa League now
Arsenal's slim chances at qualifying for the UEFA Champions League via finishing fourth in the Premier League look all but over now. The draw leaves the Gunners 9 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with 9 games to go.
While that gap might not seem like much, Arsenal will also need West Ham, Liverpool, Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa to slip up. Stranger things have happened in football, but this seems a step too far.
Mikel Arteta now has to firmly set his sights on the UEFA Europa League now. Slavia Prague may not be the most intimidating of opponents, but given how Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal troubled them today, they ought to be fully aware of the duo's former clubs' qualities.
It's the last hope for Arsenal, but Arteta has already proved he knows how to win a cup. Do it again, and this would be quite a stunning turnaround in fortunes for the Spaniard, who was close to the sack earlier this season.
