Arsenal title hopes hammered, Villa all but down

Football Soccer - West Ham United v Arsenal - Barclays Premier League - Upton Park - 9/4/16 Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista in action with West Ham's Andy Carroll Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal's title hopes were virtually extinguished by a 3-3 draw at West Ham United and Aston Villa's top-flight status is merely mathematical after an eighth successive defeat all but sealed their fate on Saturday.

Needing a barnstorming finish to the Premier League season and a Leicester City wobble to have any chance of finishing top for the first time since 2004, Arsenal seemed on course for a third consecutive win when they led 2-0.