Arsenal's recent draws against Liverpool and West Ham have been a mixed bag of results for the North London club. While they managed to pick up valuable points in their push for European qualification, the manner in which they surrendered leads in both games will leave some fans frustrated.
In their match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal took the lead in the 61st minute through a superb goal from Sadio Mane's replacement, Alexandre Lacazette. The Gunners had defended resolutely up to that point, frustrating the reigning Premier League champions and keeping their attackers at bay.
However, Liverpool's relentless pressure eventually paid off, as they equalized through a Diogo Jota header in the 82nd minute. Despite the late goal, Arsenal can take heart from their defensive solidity and ability to create chances against a top-class side.
The draw against West Ham was a different story altogether. Arsenal raced into a 3-0 lead at the London Stadium, with goals from Jesse Lingard (own goal), Jarrod Bowen, and Tomas Soucek. The Gunners looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory, but complacency and defensive errors saw West Ham mount an unlikely comeback.
Goals from Soucek and Craig Dawson brought the Hammers level, and they could have even gone on to win the game had it not been for some heroic defending from Arsenal. While the draw against Liverpool was a decent result, the manner in which Arsenal threw away a three-goal lead against West Ham will be a cause for concern.
Despite the disappointing nature of the West Ham result, there were some positives to take away from the game. Arsenal showed real attacking intent and were clinical in front of goal, something that has been lacking at times this season. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were particularly impressive, causing havoc in the West Ham defense and creating numerous chances.
The draws against Liverpool and West Ham highlight the inconsistencies that have plagued Arsenal this season. While they are capable of producing some excellent performances, they have also struggled to maintain their form over extended periods of time. Mikel Arteta will be looking to address these issues as the season reaches its conclusion, with Arsenal still in with a chance of securing European football next season.