Arsenal fans call weak-link out as Title form takes a hit

North London side, Arsenal had their Premier League title ambitions taking a hit as they succumbed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, missing the chance to claim the league summit.

Jarrod Bowen set up Tomas Soucek, who fired home the opener 13 minutes into the game, but VAR couldn’t confirm if the ball had exited the pitch before Bowen’s touch.

Former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos then doubled West Ham’s lead with a towering header, capitalizing on defensive lapses from Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

In a tense finale, David Raya denied Saïd Benrahma’s penalty in the closing minutes, denying West Ham a more comprehensive victory. However, Arsenal’s attempts to stage a comeback fell short, with concerns raised about Zinchenko’s defensive vulnerabilities among fans.

On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), criticisms mounted against Zinchenko’s performance. Some fans expressed worries that his defensive shortcomings could jeopardize Arsenal’s title hopes.

Comparisons were drawn with other attacking defenders like Trent Alexander-Arnold, highlighting Zinchenko’s perceived deficiency in both defensive stability and attacking prowess.

Zinchenko, who arrived at Arsenal from Manchester City with high expectations in 2022, has struggled to replicate his initial success this season. With just one goal and one assist in the Premier League, his form has raised concerns among supporters.

The Ukrainian international was replaced by winger Reiss Nelson after 63 minutes, a move that some fans felt improved Arsenal’s defensive solidity during the game.