Arsenal's Struggles Against West Ham

Arsenal's dream of clinching the Premier League title faced a harsh reality check as they were outclassed by West Ham United in a tightly contested match at the Emirates Stadium. With an electrifying 44th-minute header from Jarrod Bowen, West Ham clinched a memorable 1-0 victory, taking advantage of a momentary lapse in Arsenal's defense. Bowen soared to meet Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross, leaving Arsenal's keeper scrambling as the ball nestled into the net.

The Gunners' agony did not end there. Desperate to find an equalizer, Arsenal seemed out of sorts in front of their home supporters. Attempting to fill the attacking void left by injuries, manager Mikel Arteta placed his faith in Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker. But the home side only managed two shots on target throughout the encounter.

Turning Point and Underlying Consequences

The match's complexion changed dramatically in the 72nd minute. Arsenal substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was handed a straight red card after a reckless foul on Mohammed Kudus, an incident confirmed after a lengthy VAR review. The Gunners were forced to see out the game with ten men, making their uphill battle even more difficult.

As time ticked away, Arsenal mounted waves of attacks, yet nothing seemed to pierce through. A blocked free-kick from Raheem Sterling and an unfortunate errant strike from Leandro Trossard highlighted their fruitless attempts in the dying moments. This defeat brought an end to Arsenal’s outstanding 15-match unbeaten league streak, which had been the backbone of their title push.

Meanwhile, this win was a feather in the cap for West Ham. It's been nearly two decades since they last celebrated consecutive victories at the Emirates, with the previous one being way back in 2007. The triumph propels West Ham up the table and showcases their capability to challenge the bigger clubs.

With Arsenal now trailing eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, who are gearing up for a challenging match against Manchester City, the pressure is firmly on the Gunners. Looking forward, the path doesn't get easier with upcoming tests including matches against Nottingham Forest and a vital Champions League tie against PSV. For Arsenal fans, the dream remains alive but significantly threatened, demanding immediate improvement from the team.