ARSENAL captain met Declan Rice in the tunnel after their 2-2 draw with West Ham, signing a shirt for the England midfielder.
Gabriel Jesus and Odegaard put the Gunners ahead in the game, but Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen knocked a huge dent in the Gunners' title hopes.
Gary Neville surprisingly defended the Gunners after the game when talk of Arteta's side bottling the league title came up.
“Arsenal finishing second would still be an unbelievable season,” he said.
“I’m not saying they won’t be disappointed but I still wouldn’t look from the outside and think they’ve had a terrible season.
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- Emillia Hawkins
All Zin
Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to return to the Arsenal squad ahead of Friday's Premier League clash with Southampton.
The full-back was ruled out of Sunday's clash with West Ham due to a minor groin injury which was sustained during last week's 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
However, according to The Telegraph, he is expected to return to full fitness before the end of this week.
Credit: Getty - Gary Stonehouse
Morning, Arsenal fans
Boss Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal lacked a "ruthless mindset" and skipper Martin Odegaard blasted their "stupid" mistakes as they again wasted a 2-0 Prem lead.
West Ham followed Liverpool by rescuing a 2-2 draw – leaving the Gunners just four points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Gabrile Jesus and Odegaard rewarded Arsenal's fluent start inside nine minutes.
But Said Benrahma's penalty reply changed the mood.
And straight after Bukayo Saka's woeful penalty miss, Jarrod Bowen volleyed the Hammers' brilliant, deserved equaliser on 54 minutes.
Arteta said: “We started extremely well, we dominated the game and scored two beautiful goals and then we made a huge mistake to stop playing with the same purpose to score again.
“It just looked too easy. We thought we could just play around them and maintain the result and at the moment we gave them hope.
“We conceded a terrible penalty and after that we got on the roller coaster where all the corners and throw-ins were coming at us and we never got away from that.
“We needed to do many things better than we did today and if you don’t defend the box the way you should you concede goals like we did."
Odegaard gave a similar verdict, saying: “We did the same thing at Liverpool last week. We started well but then we stopped and allowed them to play to their strengths.
“We started to do a lot of stupid things on the ball and gave them the game they wanted to play. And that’s on us.”
- Ian Tuckey
Sign of things to come?
Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing after main transfer target Declan Rice was seen asking Gunners’ skipper Martin Odegaard for an AUTOGRAPH following today’s 2-2 draw.
Odegaard scored as Arsenal went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes.
But West Ham produced an incredible comeback as they secured a 2-2 draw to dent the Gunners’ title hopes.
After the match, Rice and Odegaard were seen deep in talks.
An Arsenal jersey bearing the Norwegian’s name and number was then produced.
And Rice held it tight as Odegaard autographed the shirt with his signature.
England star Rice loves collecting jerseys from his biggest rivals, and boasts an incredible collection featuring the likes of Mason Mount, Harry Kane and Jack Grealish.
But Arsenal fans saw the interaction with Odegaard as a clear sign that Rice is going to join them this summer.
And Mikel Arteta is understood to have made Rice one of his top targets.
One fan said: “Rice is gagging to leave West Ham, wow.”
Another declared: “He is ours. He wants us.”
One noted: “100 per cent going to Arsenal.”
- Ian Tuckey
Olise to 'snub Gunners'
Rising star Michael Olise plans to stay at Crystal Palace next season – despite growing interest.
The French magician has been in dazzling form and top clubs in the Premier League including Arsenal are watching him.
And the Eagles midfielder has attracted the attention of multiple Champions League giants too.
However, SunSport can reveal he is settled with Palace and wants another full season at Selhurst Park to develop and get more consistency.
Palace have the Under-21 international under contract and are happy to know his opinion.
It will also soften the blow if Wilfried Zaha, 30, wants to try his luck and move on at the end of his contract.
- Ian Tuckey
Mikel backs Saka to bounce back
Mikel Arteta is sure Bukayo Saka will recover again from his new penalty trauma.
The winger missed in England's Euro 2020 final shootout final loss and fired wide with Arsenal 2-1 up in today's draw at West Ham
Boss Arteta said: “If we score that penalty it’s 3-1 and you have to win the match by a bigger margin.
“But I don’t know any player who takes penalties who hasn’t missed.
"If you’re prepared to take penalties you have to be prepared that the possibility to miss is 100 percent.
“Bukayo has been through this before and he will go through it again. If I had to pick one player to do that, it would be him again.”
- Ian Tuckey
Odegaard rues 'stupid things' after draw
Captain Martin Odegaard bemoaned Arsenal doing "stupid things" and repeating their Liverpool slip-up as West Ham too pulled off a 2-2 comeback draw.
The Gunners have now turned 2-0 Prem leads into 2-2 draws twice in a row.
Odegaard said: “We did the same thing at Liverpool last week. We started well but then we stopped and allowed them to play to their strengths.
“We started to do a lot of stupid things on the ball and gave them the game they wanted to play. And that’s on us.”
- Ian Tuckey
Arteta blasts Gunners
Mikel Arteta ripped into Arsenal’s lack of killer instinct as they threw away two more vital points in the title race, writes MARK IRWIN.
Arteta moaned: “When the game is there for the killing, you have to do it. We needed that ruthless mindset because when you don’t have that in the Premier League at some stage the momentum is going to turn around .
“It’s very disappointing. We started extremely well, we dominated the game and scored two beautiful goals and then we made a huge mistake to stop playing with the same purpose to score again.
“It just looked too easy. We thought we could just play around them and maintain the result and at the moment we gave them hope.
“We conceded a terrible penalty and after that we got on the roller coaster where all the corners and throw-ins were coming at us and we never got away from that.
“We needed to do many things better than we did today and if you don’t defend the box the way you should you concede goals like we did.
“My worry is that after 2-0 we made a huge mistake and didn’t understand what the game required at that moment.
“For sure it’s a concern when you’re able to drop your level so quickly when the game is there to be won.
“I have no idea what this means for the title race but for sure we have to dig really deep and find the solution to what has just happened.”
- Ian Tuckey
Morgan fears Gunners 'throwing the title away'
Piers Morgan fumed Arsenal are "throwing the title away" as they blew a 2-0 lead for the second Premier League game in a row.
The SunSport columnist warned "Wake the f*** up, Arsenal" as West Ham followed Liverpool in earning a 2-2 comeback draw.
Bukayo Saka missed a penalty as the table-topping Gunners moved only four points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
With Pep Guardiola's champions facing Champions League and FA Cup matches this week, Arsenal will expect to move seven points ahead at home to Southampton on Friday.
But Piers is furious at unexpected turnarounds in two successive games.
Roberto Firmino snatched a deserved late point for Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday.
And seven days later the Gunners again wasted early control.
Morgan had greeted both the Gunners' goals with "BOOOOOOM!"
But his mood changed to gloom as the TalkTV host posted following the draw: "Wake the f*** up, Arsenal – we’re throwing the Title away."
And after giving himself half an hour to reflect, he tweeted a cartoon meme of an angry man exploding with fire.
- Ian Tuckey
Sub ratings
Leandro Trossard (on for Jesus 66mins) – 7
Once again a lively performance off the bench but couldn't offer a big enough spark for the rest of the Gunner's misfiring attack.
Jorginho (on for Partey 66mins) – 6
Gave the Gunners a more secure passing option than Partey had offered prior to him.
Reiss Nelson (On for Martinelli 85mins) – 6
Few decent touches but not really enough time to make mark.
Fabio Vieira (On for Tierney 85mins) – 5
Offered little after coming on. Like Nelson too little time for impact.
Eddie Nketiah (on for Odegaard) – N/A
Not enough time to make mark.
- Ian Tuckey
Front three ratings
Bukayo Saka – 5
Missed from 12 yards just before Bowen's equaliser. Started brightly but faded, culminating in the penalty miss.
Wasted a great chance by going alone when three on two on a counter-attack in the 70th minute.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Beautiful cross to set up Odegaard's volley, but like his captain went quiet for much of the rest.
Subbed off after 85 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus – 8
Gabriel Jesus put in a fine display was but able to do nothing to stop the Gunners collapseCredit: Rex Scored an early goal to try settle any Arsenal nerves. Appeared to work a treat as the Gunners scored a swift second before the team's defensive collapse.
Led the line well and produced some brilliant touches in a role more similar to a false nine. Subbed after 66 minutes.
- Ian Tuckey
Midfield ratings
Thomas Partey – 6
Slipped in White when he set up the opener. Always available for as a passing option but left far from his best when it came to his more defensive duties.
Gave the ball away to Declan Rice in the build up to the penalty and received a yellow card for a cynical foul shortly after. Subbed off after 66 minutes.
Granit Xhaka – 6
Not afraid to get down and dirty against West Ham.
Gritty performance but was unable to lift up the rest of below par midfield.
Martin Odegaard – 6
Scored a crisp volley but went quiet soon after.
Far from his creative best and subbed off after 90 minutes.
- Ian Tuckey
Player ratings vs West Ham
SunSport's Tony Robertson assesses the Gunners following the Prem leaders' slump to a 2-2 away draw.
DEFENCE:
Aaron Ramsdale – 6
Unfortunately dived the wrong way for the penalty before tipping over a potentially dangerous header later on.
Could have done better with Jarrod Bowen's volleyed equaliser shortly after the break.
Ben White – 7
Got an assist with the opener thanks to a perfectly weighted pass across the goal.
Failed to get out quickly enough with to hold an offside trap when Bowen fired home the equaliser.
Rob Holding – 5
Caught out in behind a couple of times when isolated against Michail Antonio. Struggled in the physical battle against the West Ham star all game.
Like White, guilty of failing to get up quickly enough when Bowen ran in behind for his equaliser.
Gabriel – 6
Gave away a foul on Lucas Paqueta for Benrahma's penalty.
Covered Holding well when Antonio looked to have an advantage, though like Holding had a tough time when isolated against Antonio one on one.
Kieran Tierney – 7
Replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko in the line up and was solid throughout.
Failed to track Bowen on the equaliser. Subbed off after 85 minutes as Arsenal went for the win.
- Ian Tuckey
Result: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
Arsenal are now just four points clear of Man City – who have a game in hand – are blowing a 2-0 lead for the second Prem game running.
Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard rewarded the Gunners early domination with a double strike inside nine minutes.
But despite a fluent opening quarter of the match, Arsenal lost control once Said Benhrahma bagged a 33rd-minute penalty reply.
And although Bukay Saka fired a controversial penalty a foot wide, Jarrod Bowen promptly volleyed a brilliant leveller on 54 minutes – well merited for West Ham's high-tempo display.
The Gunners then faced tricky moments as they lacked their usual composure but a draw was fair.
Follow our match blog for reaction.
- Ian Tuckey
Result: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
The Gunners were pegged back from 2-0 up and survived a hairy last half-hour.
Follow our match blog for reaction.
- Ian Tuckey
'Caicedo and Mac Allister good value at £114m'
Ex-Arsenal defender William Gallas believes Brighton midfielders Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister would be excellent summer signings – even at £114milion between them.
The Gunners had January offers rejected for Ecuador hero Caicedo, while other Prem giants have been linked with Argentina star Mac Allister.
Former Spurs and Chelea centre-back Gallas told Genting Casino: "I don’t think £114m for Caicedo and Mac Allister is too much, it’s for two players.
"Next season Arsenal need to play in the Champions League, and will need to rotate the squad more.
"So I don’t think that is too much for those two. Mac Allister is a world champion too.
"Arsenal already have midfielders, but they have to compete in the Champions League and Premier League so I think it could be a good move."
- Ian Tuckey
Latest: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
Michail Antonio's header thudded off the bar following brilliant work from West Ham trickster Said Benrahma.
It's looking pretty even in the final 10 minutes, but certainly the Gunners have never rediscovered the early flow that gave them a 2-0 lead.
Follow our match blog for updates
- Ian Tuckey
Latest: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
The Gunners are finally beginning to regain some momentum after the busy Hammers unnerved them early in the second period.
Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey replaced by Jorginho and Leandro Trossard after 66 minutes.
But soon after that Saka wasted a reasonable opening.
Follow our match blog for updates
- Ian Tuckey
Barber reveals why Ramsdale is cut above the rest
Aaron Ramsdale and his Arsenal team-mates must show mental toughness in the final eight matches to win the Premier League title.
But boss Mikel Arteta will have no worries over goalkeeper Ramsdale, who has shown northern grit throughout a tough journey to reach the top.
As a kid, the hungry Gunners No 1 trained in all conditions, including a swamp at Fred Barber's soccer school in Stoke.
That tough schooling moulded Ramsdale's character which will be vital in the pressure cooker of the title race as Arsenal bid to hold off champions Manchester City.
Barber told SunSport: "I first saw Aaron when he was ten at my Friday hourly sessions. He was a skinny kid, a little runt. He had a cheeky face and I liked that because I was a character too.
"I treated the kids like professional keepers and you either worked hard or thought, 'This is too hard and drift off'.
"Some keepers would be sick because the drills pushed them to the limits. As a coach I was trying to find out how far they could go and what they were made of.
"It didn't frighten Aaron. His attitude was brilliant. The more I pushed him the more he wanted it. Kids can be emotional but he worked hard. He had that northern grit.
"People… don't realise how he has learnt his trade playing for Chesterfield, Wimbledon, Sheffield United, Bournemouth.
"Only one in a 1,000 make it but the ones who graft tend to make it more than the gifted ones."
- Ian Tuckey
GOAL: West Ham 2 Arsenal 2
Jarrod Bowen's sublime volleyed equaliser for the Hammers makes Saka pay for his penalty woe.
Follow our match blog for updates
- Ian Tuckey
Saka misses penalty
The Arsenal winger fired his spot-kick well wide.
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- Ian Tuckey
Arsenal penalty!
Michail Antonio is harshly ruled to have handled.
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- Ian Tuckey
LATEST: West Ham 1 Arsenal 2
The Hammers began the second half brightly.
Rob Holding and Ben White cleared two corners.
But Arsenal wideman Bukayo Saka responded with a shot deflected wide at the other end.
Follow our match blog for updates
- Joshua Jones
Half-time in East London
The half-time whistle has just sounded at the London Stadium.
And Arsenal lead 2-1 at the break.
Thomas Partey was pipped by Declan Rice before Gabriel brought down Lucas Paqueta – and Said Benraham slid the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot.
- Joshua Jones
Flying start at West Ham
Arsenal have made a simply superb start at the London Stadium.
Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring on seven minutes.
And Martin Odegaard passed in a side-volley at the back post for 2-0 in the tenth minute.
That will settle the nerves for Arsenal fans…
Credit: Getty - Joshua Jones
Pundits have their say
Roy Keane and Gary Neville have been talking to Sky Sports ahead of the game at the London Stadium.
Keane said: "This is a good game for Arsenal. It’s at West Ham, it’s a big pitch.
"West Ham have been struggling and had European game in the week. Arsenal have had a full week to prepare for it. These are the games you have to enjoy and embrace."
Neville added: "The only danger is that Liverpool game had more of an impact on them than we think. But they’ve had a good week to prepare for it and Arsenal did play well last week.
"I don’t see the game causing them a problem, I think they’ll be fine, but the Liverpool game might cause a hangover and potentially something from last night watching Man City."
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