30 November 2024
West Ham 2 Arsenal 5
It has been a strange season so far for Hammers’ fans. They were looking forward to a new era under Julen Lopetegui to push on from as far as David Moyes could take them. Instead, they seem to have gone backwards and are flirting with those bottom three places once again. The visitors Arsenal were looking for victory to keep up with leaders Liverpool at the top of the table.
After an impressive win at St James’ Park last time out, West Ham fans were hoping this was going to be the moment that kickstarted their season. This London derby would prove a stern test as The Gunners had a pretty decent record at the London Stadium. Bowen has often been the thorn in the side of the visitors all too often and they would need to be wary of his threat.
The visitors started the game on the front foot and as a Saka corner was swung in, Gabriel made a run to the front post and guided the ball past Fabianski to open the scoring. West Ham looked static at the set piece and nobody tracked the run of the most dangerous player for Arteta’s side when it comes to corners. Instead they all looked around at each other for who was at fault.
Lopetegui’s side thought they had made the perfect response when Summerville ran through on goal. He scooped the ball over Raya and into the back of the net, only to see the assistant’s flag raised for offside. The replay showed it was the right decision, you just wish they would notify the world sooner as they seem to draw it out now for the showmanship effect.
Defensively, The Hammers were looking a shambles. Odegaard clipped a ball over the top for Saka, who unselfishly squared it for Trossard to tap home and further silence the home faithful. You cannot let sides play through you with such ease and hope to remain a Premier League club. Something needs to change quickly if West Ham are going to turn things around.
Saka was causing trouble whenever he received the ball. The Gunners’ winger skipped past Paqueta before going to ground. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Odegaard took the ball from the young winger and tucked it into the bottom corner. With just over half an hour played and the visitors were three goals to the good.
Havertz then ghosted through on goal and slotted it past Fabianski. This was all too easy and you feared for the end result for the West Ham fans. They were getting beaten in every area of the pitch and Arteta’s side looked capable of scoring from every attack. With The Hammers’ manager sat in the stands, they looked to be sinking without a trace.
Their first attack of the game saw the ball played into the path of Wan-Bissaka. The former Man Utd full back slotted past Raya to give the home fans something to celebrate. Even this early in the game it seemed somewhat of a consolation. However, it gave Lopetegui’s side a belief that they could hurt the visitors when they got on the front foot.
Before the interval, Paqueta was fouled just outside the box. Emerson stood over the set piece and curled one over the wall, striking the underside of the bar on its way in. It was a bizarre half of football, not that the neutral was complaining, having seen six goals. Suddenly, West Ham seemed within touching distance of The Gunners once again.
The action was not done there though. As a corner for the visitors was whipped in, once again nobody tracked Gabriel. As he had yet another completely free header at goal, Fabianski seemed to punch the player rather than the ball when trying to deal with it. A penalty was given and Saka stepped up to take it. The keeper went the right way but could not keep it out.
You feared for West Ham in this game, if they continued to concede goals like the first-half, this really could be a rugby score in the capital. After the break, it was the hosts who tried their luck from some distance. While Antonio’s shot had Raya scrambling, it was the wrong side of the post and did not cause any harm for The Gunners.
West Ham should have added another when Ings took the ball around Raya. While he had given himself a tight angle to deal with, he really should have rolled his effort into the back of the net. Instead it flashed across goal and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief. Despite looking so potent in the final third, The Gunners were gifting chances to Lopetegui’s side.
They struggled to create chances in the second-half, much to the delight of the home fans. If anything, West Ham seemed to just edge it after the interval but could not reduce the deficit. The game seemed done already, not many could see this Hammers’ side scoring five goals against Mikel Artetra’s outfit. As good as Arsenal were, The Hammers contributed to their own downfall.
For anyone who thought the win at Newcastle was a turning point, they went home bitterly disappointed. Arteta headed back to North London content that his side had continued applying pressure to Liverpool at the top. They faced Man City the following day and the Spaniard was hoping they would drop points. Either way, this was a comfortable win for The Gunners as they continue to score goals at will.
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