Arsenal missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they slipped to a disappointing defeat to West Ham amid more VAR controversy.
The Gunners needed victory to replace Liverpool at the summit but lost 2-0 by the Hammers on a night where David Moyes finally landed a victory at the Emirates Stadium.
His West Ham side lost Kurt Zouma ahead of the game and Lucas Paqueta after just over half an hour but hit the front through Tomas Soucek’s strike, awarded after VAR could not determine whether the whole ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
A second-half header from former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos secured the points and things could have been even better for the visitors had Said Benrahma not seen a last-gasp penalty saved by David Raya.
Moyes had failed to secure victory in his previous 72 Premier League away games at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United, so this was a long time coming for the Scot.
Arsenal laboured when they needed to continue their recent winning run in London derbies to go back to the top of the table.
Instead, only captain Martin Odegaard could hold his head high on a night where their defence creaked and Gabriel Jesus was guilty of missing a couple of very good chances.
Arsenal started well, with some great touches in and around the West Ham box from Odegaard in particular.
But at the other end their defending left a lot to be desired, as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes failed to deal with a simple ball into the middle.
Jarrod Bowen capitalised by latching onto the miscue and teed up Soucek to finish – the goal surviving a lengthy VAR check which could not ultimately make a call on if the ball had not gone out of play before Bowen’s cutback.
Arsenal looked to respond although the goal gave West Ham something to defend, although Jesus found a way in behind with a subtle flick into Bukayo Saka, whose header was brilliantly saved by Alphonse Areola.
Paqueta had been hurt in the warm-up and lasted just over half an hour, with his fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli curling an effort just wide for Arsenal as they continued in vain to find a leveller.
The hosts were getting closer, West Ham gifting possession as two passes saw Arsenal in on goal once more, this time Saka hitting the base of the post from an acute angle.
Former West Ham captain Declan Rice fired just over from 25 yards but it was another player coming back to haunt his former club who would find the back of the net soon after.
Mavropanos made just seven league starts in three years as an Arsenal player but returned to the Premier League last summer with the Hammers and headed them two goals ahead before the hour.
Jesus then headed straight at Areola before sending another fine chance well over the bar moments after Arteta introduced Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson off the bench.
Areola was on hand again to keep out a Leandro Trossard effort, with Vladimir Coufal clearing a William Saliba header off the line from the resulting corner.
Rice had come off the bench during a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat on his return to West Ham earlier in the season and endured another night to forget here as he conceded a late penalty for tripping Emerson Palmieri in the box – only for Raya to keep out substitute Benrahma’s tame spot-kick.
Sporting director Ashworth leaves Manchester United
Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United's sporting director just five months after joining the club.
United pushed hard for the highly rated Ashworth, who was in place at Newcastle United, and spent five months on gardening leave before officially starting with the Red Devils, who reportedly paid significant compensation to his former club.
His first day on the job came on July 1, but now just five months later, he has left Old Trafford by mutual agreement.
"We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future," a statement from the club read.
Ashworth led United's recruitment drive over the summer as the club aimed to back Erik ten Hag, who they subsequently dismissed at the end of October.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in to boost United's senior squad.
United lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as new boss Ruben Amorim suffered a second straight defeat, and his first at Old Trafford.
That loss left United in 13th in the Premier League.
Ancelotti confident Real Madrid are nearing their best
Carlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid are making their way back to their best after their 3-0 victory over Girona.
Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe were on target on Saturday, moving to within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
Since losing 4-0 to Barca at the end of October, Madrid have won four of their last five LaLiga matches, with their sole defeat coming against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
But Ancelotti feels his team are rediscovering their best form.
"Bellingham has scored his fifth goal in a row. He's back and in good form. Mbappe scored too," he said.
"We have to hang in there, little by little we're coming back.
"We had to hold on at the beginning because Girona pushed hard. We did a good job collectively, and then we handled the advantage well. The team had more clarity and more ideas. I think the second half went very well."
The Italian also praised Guler's performance after the Turkish youngster scored Madrid's second goal.
"He wasn't good in the first half but in the second half he scored a fantastic goal," Ancelotti said.
"What I want to highlight is his work. He runs a lot and helps the team. His goal takes a bit of pressure off him.
"He's a young player with a lot of pressure around him and it's good for him to take a bit of pressure off."
An injury to Bellingham was a cause for concern for Madrid, but Ancelotti allayed any major fears.
"[Bellingham] is fine, he is available," said the Italian. "We've had the muscle injury to [Benjamin] Mendy but the rest of it is just knocks, nothing more,"
Mbappe's goal brought up his 200th in the top five leagues, while Bellingham has scored in five consecutive league games in a single season for the first time.
Motta not satisfied as Juve draw again, admits tactical errors
Thiago Motta was far from satisfied with Juventus' performance as they drew 2-2 with Bologna on Saturday, though he did hail the Bianconeri's character as they recovered to remain unbeaten in Serie A.
Juve fought back from 2-0 down in Turin, with 20-year-old forward Samuel Mbangula scoring a stoppage-time leveller from outside the area.
The Bianconeri are the only side yet to taste defeat in the Italian top flight this campaign, but with nine of their 15 matches finishing level, they remain seven points adrift of leaders Atalanta.
"The positive point was the reaction. We pulled back a game which was in a very bad position," Motta said at his post-match press conference.
"We are not satisfied with the result or even with what we have done. I have to thank the guys for the heart and the courage that they showed."
Motta refused to criticise his players' attitude, instead acknowledging he made tactical errors as Bologna attempted as many shots as Juve (10) and won the expected goals (xG) battle, 0.93 to 0.87.
"No player went missing. It was a tactical problem and that's my fault," Motta said. "We were not able to overcome the pressure. Today was complicated and we went into difficulty, then we came back but we can't be satisfied.
"I repeat, we are not satisfied but this must make us stronger."
Motta knows the Turin giants need to start turning draws into wins if they are to climb the table, adding: "We have to improve to be in the position where we want to be, which is not the one we have today.
"We have to deal with this situation by moving forward and improving for the next game on Wednesday."
Manchester City visit Turin for a Champions League tie on Wednesday, with both sides on eight points and outside the automatic qualification places.
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