Premier League: Arsenal vs West Ham Match Review

This was… possibly one of the most bizarre compilation of one sided football I have ever watched. West Ham vs Arsenal at London Stadium. This was an… interesting one to watch live.

15th minute: J. Lingard GOAL

West Ham 1-0 Arsenal

J Lingerz. The man that terrorises Arsenal Football Club. West Ham, having dominated play drive down the left side through Antonio. Poor marking from Xhaka and Partey see Lingard all open at the top of the box. One touch. Half volley. Right foot. Top bins.

Wondrous strike. Bad start.

17th minute: J. Bowen GOAL

West Ham 2-0 Arsenal

Saka fouls Antonio at the corner of the box. Arsenal switch off and turn away from the ball, allowing Lingard to take the free kick quickly and release Bowen into the box. Shoots near post and just manages to get it in. Poor goalkeeping from Leno if you ask me. Even worse defending.

Smart play. Terrible start.

32nd minute: T. Soucek GOAL

West Ham 3-0 Arsenal

West Ham continue to control play and pull the strings. Arsenal give up possession cheaply and allow West Ham to send a cross into the box. Antonio towers over Luiz to head it down to Soucek, who steers it home with 1 touch.

Alert attacking. Horrific start.

38th minute: T. Soucek OWN GOAL

West Ham 3-1 Arsenal

Callum Chambers bursts down the right hand side as he did all game. He fires in a cross which Lacazette brings down well, before firing a volley goal bound. A deflection off of Soucek steers the ball on target and into the back of the net with emphatic power.

The momentum shifter.

HALF TIME:

West Ham 3-1 Arsenal

A sloppy and sleepy start saw Arsenal go down 3-0 to some classy attacking play, courtesy of the Hammers. The Gunners were somewhat lucky to pull one back and controlled play for the rest of the half, with Saka having two good chances that he failed to put away.

61st minute: C. Dawson OWN GOAL

West Ham 3-2 Arsenal

On the back of a goal line clearance after a beautiful lobbed through ball from Chambers to a Lacazette chip shot, Arsenal were knocking at the door. This time the Gunners taking the free kick quickly from near halfway, the ball is switched to Chambers after a great pass from Odegaard. Callum Chambers, in the box at this stage, fires a cross across goal which is turned in by an unsuspecting Dawson – his second own goal in two games, and the second own goal of the night for West Ham.

82nd minute: A. Lacazette GOAL

West Ham 3-3 Arsenal

Just over 5 minutes after Antonio hit the post from 2 yards out, Arsenal went down the other end of the pitch. Pepe chips in a beautiful cross along the edge of the 6 yard box, which Lacazette rises up terrifically to head home.

I say a lot about Lacazette. I say he is too small. I say he isn’t the best fit for a target man. I say he is not versatile enough. But if he keeps playing like he did in this game, I don’t see anyone else starting a game for the rest of the season at ST other than him.

FULL TIME:

West Ham 3-3 Arsenal

It could have gone either way. West Ham had chances to put us away. We had chances to draw equal earlier and take the lead. A fair result in the end.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Martin Odegaard – 8

I would’ve loved to give Odegaard a better rating, but a couple of readers say I am too generous when it comes to it. However, Odegaard was brilliant. Utterly seamless. The stats tell you all you need to know. 95 touches. Only misplaced 4 passes. Lead the game in attacking box entries and key passes. Put simply, he orchestrated the Gunners comeback. So calm on the ball, held it well, seemed to always find the right pass. Get the contract out and give this man the pen.

An honourable mention definitely goes to Callum Chambers. Brilliant on the right hand side – couldn’t put a foot wrong. Ended up with an assist and the cross that lead to the second own goal. Absolutely brilliant.

At the end of the day, a bittersweet result for Arsenal. Paul Merson put it best when he said;

“That was Arsenal’s season in 90 minutes. One minute they’re poor, the next minute they’re great and it’s not good enough.”