Leeds United mathematically safe from relegation after Arsenal man's brilliance and crushing West Ham blow — YEP 10/5/26

By Lee Sobot

Leeds United knew that an Arsenal win at West Ham would make them mathematically safe.

Leeds United are mathematically safe from relegation with three games left thanks to an incredible 1-0 win for title-chasing Arsenal at West Ham featuring brilliance from Gunners keeper David Raya and an unbelievable late twist.

Leeds began the weekend seven points clear of third-bottom West Ham with just three games remaining, meaning a defeat for West Ham in Sunday’s 4.30pm kick-off at home to Arsenal would leave the Whites mathematically safe.

Given West Ham’s inferior goal difference, a draw would have been enough to make Leeds realistically safe if not mathematically, United’s goal difference standing at minus five and West Ham’s at minus 19.

But a 1-0 win for the Gunners removed goal difference from the equation, Leandro Trossard bagging the only goal of the game for Arsenal who looked to have conceded a 95th-minute equaliser only to be dramatically saved by VAR.

With bottom two sides Wolves and Burnley already down, defeat for West Ham leaves them seven points behind Leeds with just two games remaining, Leeds now mathematically safe and guaranteed 2026-27 Premier League football along with both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Forest and Palace both bagged 2-2 draws on Sunday to jump above Leeds and West Ham’s defeat has also led to Forest and Palace both being safe.

It means the battle to avoid finishing in the division’s final relegation place is now a straight shootout between Tottenham and West Ham, the Irons one point behind fourth-bottom Spurs who Leeds visit on Monday night. Tottenham, though, have three games left as opposed to just two for West Ham.

Leeds, meanwhile, on 43 points have the opportunity to jump back above Forest and Palace and also draw level on points with Newcastle in Monday night’s match at Tottenham where the pressure from a survival bid perspective is finally off.

In a low scoring but ultimately incredible game, Arsenal were presented with a good chance in the eighth minute as a Trossard ball down the left played in Riccardo Calafiori whose rising shot was deflected behind for a corner.

From the corner, Hammers keeper Mads Hermansen produced a fine save to keep out a header from Trossard whose follow-up header bounced back off the bar.

From another corner, Bukayo Saka’s delivery picked out Gabriel who sent his header over.

Arsenal were forcing the issue and a decent Calafiori effort from the edge of the box swerved just wide.

The Gunners then looked certain to score in the 22nd minute as a glancing header from Calafiori from a Declan Rice free kick flew past Hermansen but Konstantinos Mavropanos made a brilliant block near the line.

After West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf narrowly failed to get on the end of a Jarrod Bowen ball into the box, Arsenal’s former Leeds loanee Ben White was then forced off injured and replaced by Martin Zubimendi.

That meant Rice playing in the unfamiliar position of right back and the Hammers began to offer more of a threat, ex-Leeds man Crysencio Summerville driving at the defence but firing his shot wide.

Ebere Eze had earlier wasted a free-kick by driving his shot into the wall and the Irons were then denied by a brilliant save from Raya to keep out a diving header from Taty Castellanos just before the break.

In order to get Rice back into midfield, Gunners boss Arteta made another change during the interval as Cristhian Mosquera was brought on which led to the lively Calafiori being sacrificed.

The Hammers had another chance after the restart through Bowen whose shot from the edge of the area was straight at Raya.

Arsenal were struggling to create much, Saka twice having a go from outside of the area but off target with both attempts.

A double Gunners change followed in the 67th minute as Eze and Zubimendi were taken off for Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.

West Ham then survived Arsenal shouts for a penalty as the ball hit the arm of the grounded Pablo in a packed box, VAR having a look but not interested.

After good defending by Rice kept out the Hammers at the other end, a cross from Saka picked out Viktor Gyokeres who sent his header over the bar.

West Ham were still threatening themselves, a dangerous Bowen cross beaten away by Raya.

But Raya was then required to pull off an outstanding save to deny Mateus Fernandes who looked destined to score as he got behind the Gunners back line and into the area, only for Raya to somehow save with his right leg.

Another Arsenal change followed as Saka has replaced by Noni Madueke as the clock hit the 80 minute marker.

West Ham were looking just as likely to score as Arsenal but the Gunners finally made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute as Trossards’s shot from just inside the box took a deflection before beating Hermansen at his left hand post.

The Hammers tried to respond and the hosts were given six minutes of stoppage time to draw level.

As the Irons piled forward, Callum Wilson fired at goal in the 95th minute, his strike hitting Gabriel and sent behind for a corner.

Incredibly, from that corner, West Ham looked to have drawn level as Wilson thumped home a fierce strike through a crowded box.

But VAR intervened to check for a foul on Raya and Arsenal were saved as a review was instructed, referee Chris Kavanagh visiting his monitor and disallowing the goal.