Five star Gunners thrash West Ham again

RAMPANT Arsenal proved they are firmly back in the groove by securing three points with a resounding 5-2 win over West Ham tomove second in the table after an action-packed encounter – and with a scarcely-believable seven goals in the first half, reports the Voice of Sport from London Stadium.

Arsenal, who had lost just one of their last 16 Premier League away games against West Ham (W10 D5), dominated from start to finish with seven shots on target and with five different goal scorers, while the Hammers could simply not keep pace and also had manager Julen Lopetegui serving a touchline ban for the match. 

Defender Gabriel opened the scoring after just nine minutes with another trademark headed goal off a Bukayo Saka corner, making him joint-top scorer for Arsenal this season along with Gabriel Martinelli. 

West Ham, who impressively beat Newcastle away 2-0 last week, thought they had equalised when Crysencio Summerville lobbed keeper David Raya, but the goal was disallowed for off-side. Arsenal then seized back control, controlling possession and immediately increased the tempo. The second goal was straight from the training ground and a contender for goal-of-the-month. 

The Gunners passed the ball around in midfield at ease before captain Martin Odegaard lifted it over the defence into the path of Saka on the right, who controlled effortlessly and half-volleyed the ball across for Trossard to tap in the easiest goal of his career. 

Things went from bad to worse for the Hammers – who drop to 14^th in the table after today’s defeat – just five minutes later when Lucas Paqueta fouled Saka in the box to concede a needless penalty which Odegaard stroked him to the right-hand side netting giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.

And yet – unbelievably – with close to 80% possession after the first half hour Arsenal scored again from their next attack: Trossard chipped the ball over to Kai Havertz who was sprinting through on goal, and when last defender Max Kilam slipped, it allowed the German forward to strike home left-footed.

With the score now 4-0, home fans feared a repeat of last year’s 6-0 demolition and once again many supporters hastily made their way to the exit – ten minutes before half time. 

However, West Ham admirably showed some persistence and managed to get back into contention just two minutes later after the pass of the game from Carlos Soler which completely unlocked the Arsenal defence, giving Aaron Wan-Bissaka the chance to finish first-time at the near post.

The home fans finally had something to cheer about and remarkably the Hammers scored another moments later when Emerson curled a text book free kick from 25 yards out up and over the wall before smacking the inside of the crossbar, and reduced the deficit to two goals.

There had already been so much action in the first half, but there was still time for more on the stroke of half time when keeper Fabianski failed to punch clear a corner and instead made contact with Gabriel to give away another penalty, this time converted by Saka to the left hand side of the goal.

The England forward had an outstanding game overall with two more assists and a goal, taking him to 15 goal involvements this season, just one behind Mo Salah, while the seven first half goals in this fixture equalled the Premier League record for goals inside the opening 45 minutes.

The second half was much more conventional in comparison with both managers making multiple substitutions. While Raheem Sterling missed a chance down the left and from a free kick, it was the Hammers who came closest to scoring when Danny Ings rounded Raya in the box but he rolled the ball agonisingly past the left-hand post.

Next up for Arsenal is a tasty home fixture against old rivals Manchester United, while West Ham face Leicester away with former United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge for the first time.