In a sensational performance, Arsenal defeated West Ham United at London Stadium because they witnessed five different players stepping up on the scoresheet to secure Arsenal’s biggest win in the Premier League. After goals from William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, and Leandro Trossard, Arsenal were four goals ahead at halftime. Towards the end of the initial 45, there were three more attacks during the six-minute injury time.
In Short
Saka added his brace after the half, and Declan Rice’s 25-yard goal to round off a perfect day for Mikel Arteta’s team made it our fourth straight victory to maintain pressure on Arsenal’s title rivals.
🗣️ Arsenal fans are singing:
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) February 11, 2024
“Who put the ball in the West Ham net, half our f*cking team did” 🔊😅
[@charles_watts]
pic.twitter.com/dTwEiyb1D9
Saliba’s start
After facing two defeats in the hands of the Hammers earlier in the season, you could feel Arsenal players’ determination to level the score right from the early stages and the Gunners began to dominate possession and territory through some slick passing moves.
It took Arsenal nearly 20 minutes to create a real opportunity, and Trossard was brought down in the box for a penalty which he converted. Following a good situation to head in Saka’s cross, Belgium doubled his tally with a volley goal, which Alphonse Areola tipped onto the crossbar, and when Arsenal started attacking the Hammers goal, he cleared an odd opportunity away from danger.
However, Arsenal’s pressure paid off decisively in the 32nd minute when Rice marked his return to London Stadium with a fantastic corner strike, which Saliba nodded into the net for the campaign’s second score, and when Saka missed a poor performance, the lead could have been further extended. A header wide of the target, and when faced with Areola, he looped the ball over the shot-stopper but saw it drop wide of the far post.
Three goals in six minutes
But soon after, he was sent running towards the goal again, and this time he rounded the French keeper who brought him down for a clear penalty. After a crucial spot-kick miss at the same stadium last season, the forward showed courage to go forward and send the ball into the net for our advantage to double in the 41st minute and score his 50th Gunners goal.
Traveling supporters were back on their feet cheering loudly three minutes later when Trossard won a free-kick on the left touchline, which Rice invited into the area, and this time Gabriel replicated his central defensive partner to score his fourth goal.
Hungry for more goals and in the dying moments of the half, a fourth came when Martin Odegaard found Trossard advancing between defenders, who nudged the ball out with his feet and took a shot. A commendable upper corner finish to make it memorable from Arteta’s side.
Range from the rice hammer:
After failing to secure a win in the league since December, the Hammers were looking strong for the team and the break continued the one-way traffic and the chances kept coming. Saka forced Areola into another good save before the second goal of the afternoon, when Odegaard slipped him through from the edge, and he drilled into the bottom corner for his 100th club goal and assist.
Rice scored a breathtaking finish two minutes later to further inflict pain on the home crowd. It seemed the opportunity had gone when Ben White’s cutback saw Odegaard and Trossard block each other’s paths, but Rice rounded off a fantastic afternoon’s work by curling the ball past Areola from 25 yards out.
Arteta managed his team in the final quarter of the game, handing minutes to Mohamed Elneny, Cedric, and 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who all tried a shot at goal during their time on the pitch. However, the damage had been done earlier and it was indeed an unforgettable afternoon for all Gunners.
What’s next for Arsenal
Arsenal wil travel to Burnley next Saturday for a traditional 3 pm kickoff before returning to Champions League action with a trip to Porto for the first leg of our Round of 16 clash on Wednesday, February 21.
