ARSENAL stars Declan Rice and Gabriel were locked in a heated discussion as the Gunners title charge fizzled out.
Mikel Arteta’s men drew a blank as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners’ title dream now looks even more unlikely after dropping more points[/caption]
Rice saluted the travelling faithful but Arsenal only mustered one shot on target[/caption]
The Gunners started the evening 11 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League standings.
And with an injury crisis rocking the Emirates, Arsenal were forced to employ midfield man Mikel Merino as a false nine.
Riccardo Calafiori smashed the post in the first half at the City Ground.
But the Gunners ultimately failed to break the deadlock and keep pace with Arne Slot’s Reds, who beat Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield.
Rice and Gabriel were spotted trudging off together following the stalemate.
The England midfielder hit the first man with a freekick late in the contest, much to his own frustration.
TNT Sports cameras spotted Rice gesturing and shouting towards the Brazilian centre-back as they left the field.
One fan on X wrote: “Rice and Gabriel in a heated argument.”
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Another said: “Rice talking under his shirt to Gabriel at the end there tells me all I need to know. The dominoes will start falling, next season is this cores last.”
While a third added: “Wheels have come off.”
Arsenal dominated the ball on the night but mustered just one shot on target.
Winger Leandro Trossard told TNT: “We played well today, we were dominant throughout the whole game today.
“But the goals happen in the box. We defended really well but up top we need to create more.
“We are a good group. There’s no magic ingredient, we just need to keep going.
“You always have to believe but I don’t think we need to look ahead, we just need to keep thinking about the next game.”
Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham
MYLES Lewis-Skelly’s second red card of 2025 appeared to put the final nail in Arsenal’s title dreams and any chances of them catching Liverpool.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to West Ham and failed to respond to Jarrod Bowen’s opener on the brink of half-time.
The Hammers’ wall stood firm as Arsenal registered just two shots on target before Lewis-Skelly’s last-man foul on Mohammed Kudus was upgraded to a red after ref Craig Pawson went to the monitor.
And Liverpool fans will breathe a sigh of relief given their recent dip in form as Arsenal remain EIGHT points behind Arne Slot’s men.
Here SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rates every Arsenal player from the Emirates Stadium.
DAVID RAYA – 5
Declan Rice indicated to Raya that he expected him to come off his line to deal with the cross for the goal.
Maybe he had a point but ultimately, Raya was let down by his defenders.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
West Ham did not offer much of a threat down their left so Timber had a reasonably comfortable game while he did try and get forward.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Was ordered by Mikel Arteta to push forward more in the second half when Arsenal had possession and in the closing stages, seemed to spend more of his time in West Ham’s area.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5
Switched off for the Bowen goal but he was not the only one.
Also found the impressive Kudus tough to handle when he cut inside.
Guilty of delivering an abysmal cross late in the game when Arsenal needed a bit of quality.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 4
A poor performance. Given the nod ahead of Lewis-Skelly but badly at fault for the opening goal as he did not get close enough to Aaron Wan-Bissaka who delivered the cross to Bowen.
Was replaced after he kept losing the ball.
DECLAN RICE – 5
Not a day he will want to remember against his former club and he got plenty of stick from West Ham’s fans, as you would expect.
Wasted one chance before the break and failed to track Bowen for the goal. Substituted shortly into the second half which was a surprise.
THOMAS PARTEY – 5
A sluggish performance from Partey whose passing was also poor. Lucky not to be replaced.
ETHAN NWANERI – 6
Had a fascinating battle with West Ham teenager Ollie Scaries, who was making his first Premier League start.
Nwaneri was excellent at Leicester but had less success against his fellow youngster although still had some bright moments.
But, at least he has a bit of a spark unlike some of his more experienced team-mates. The 17-year-old sparked concern when he came off injured in the final 10.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 5
Not having his best season at Arsenal.
This was the sort of game Arsenal needed their captain to deliver a moment of inspiration but he failed to do so.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
Not a surprise that he was not used as a false nine like that disastrous experiment against Leicester.
But he had no joy against the impressive Wan-Bissaka.
MIKEL MERINO – 5
Was the two-goal hero in his first ever appearance as a substitute striker at Leicester but had no success against West Ham’s well-drilled defence.
He looked lost out there as the makeshift No 9.
SUBS:
Myles Lewis-Skelly (for Calafiori 56 minutes) – 4
Got a red card – Arsenal’s fifth of the campaign – and although he was a long way out could have no complaints.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Rice 56 minutes) – 6
Raheem Sterling (for Nwaneri 81 minutes) – N/A
Ben White (for Saliba 87 minutes) – 5
Was handed his first Premier League minutes since returning to the squad for last week’s Leicester win.
Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji.
And Arteta added: “[We had] unquestionable character, how much wanted it and tried.
“We dominated the game. We tried in many different ways.
“We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well organised team. We have to generate more shots on target.”
