'%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,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABfAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAIBBAIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwAEBREHEwYSISIBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIRAAIDAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMRMZGh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDJvi/KeUw8GYiXH2MrmO0ihkdP1H1uSH2Pparxa8nZp7aFutV9o1Ogx0NilKNaIGswctvgjutsKU6xOJg7M//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal legend David Seaman has pinpointed Bukayo Saka's penalty miss in the Gunners' 2-2 draw against West Ham United as a crucial moment in the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta's side spurned a 2-0 lead for the second week in a row to draw 2-2 with the Hammers on Sunday (April 16). Gabriel Jesus (7') and Gabriel Martinelli (10') had given the Gunners an early lead.
However, West Ham hit back through Said Benrahma's 33rd-minute penalty and Jarrod Bowen's 54th-minute effort. The draw left Arsenal just four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Seaman reckons his former side took their foot off the gas against the Hammers. However, it was Saka's penalty miss in the 52nd minute that he feels may have consequences for the side's title hopes. He said in his podcast:
"Bukayo Saka's penalty is a deciding moment in the game. If we don't win the league, that will be remembered as a pivotal point. The first half an hour we were fantastic."
Arsenal had also drawn 2-2 against Liverpool in the game pri,or and that was a much similar display to the one against West Ham. Seaman thinks the draw with David Moyes' side was the worst of the two:
"You know what, the West Ham result feels worse than the Liverpool one. They were supposed to have learned their lessons from last week. That's what was really annoying."
The Gunners seemed to be romping to victory by half-time, as they were dominating proceedings. However, Arteta's men were unconvincing in the second half. Seaman touched on that:
"We didn't go up a gear; we went down a gear. We took our foot off the gas, and it's disappointing, but it's still not over (the title race)."
Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways when they face bottom-placed Southampton at the Emirates on Friday (April 21). It's vital they do, as they have a top-of-the-table clash with City just five days later at the Etihad.
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka apologises to fans after missed penalty
Everything Saka has touched this season has turned to gold, apart from his agonising penalty miss against West Ham. The English attacker struck the ball well wide of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi's goal.
It holds similarities to the heartbreaking penalty he missed at the 2020 European Championships final against Italy. Saka took to Instagram following his missed spot-kick:
"Regardless of the outcome, I’ll always accept my responsibility. Apologies Gunners, I’ll do everything I can to make it right."
Saka has been in phenomenal form this season, scoring 13 goals and contributing ten assists in 41 games across competitions. However, his penalty miss could prove decisive in the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City.
