🔗 Share this article

Forget about difficult fixtures. Over recent days when Mikel Arteta’s side overcome past struggles of their earlier setbacks, it was West Ham’s chance to endure the power from a in-form Arsenal who laid down a marker in the title race through a commanding victory.

Fitness Worries Mar Otherwise Pleasing Day

Aside from the concerning sight firstly Martin Ødegaard and then Declan Rice, author of the opening goal, being replaced owing to problems, this was a most satisfying afternoon for the coach marking his 300th game in charge. While a significant percentage of Arsenal’s finishes under the Spaniard have come via dead balls, they proved they're equally adept of penetrating opponents that set up to defend deep line also.

The Hammers' Fight Weakens

West Ham, that had won in their previous two journeys to this part of London, at first presented a challenge with their head coach Nuno Espírito Santo but weren’t capable of respond once going down against the impressive Rice facing his previous side. The national player requested to be replaced in the second later period clutching his back once the also key Bukayo Saka had confirmed sure of the points via a spot-kick.

Line-up Shifts and Opening Moments

It was with the reminder of February’s costly defeat in London which stopped a 15-match winning streak and any plausible aspirations of challenging final title holders Liverpool that likely persuaded Arteta to begin with Rice as the lone holding midfielder in the center alongside Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze in front of him. However, the tactic did not continue for long as the Norwegian was substituted on the half-hour mark, and his replacement Martín Zubimendi allowing Rice to move further forward.

West Ham made the more positive start as Niclas Füllkrug headed over a set-piece during the initial moments. Nuno selected an energetic midfield three of Matheus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa and Lucas Paquetá that caused Arsenal’s defensive unit additional issues at the start after Jurriën Timber had tried Alphonse Areola for West Ham. Amazingly Eze, that has the questionable honour of having had the highest number of shots without scoring in the Premier League this season, then sent his 17th wide from just a few meters when the goalkeeper keeper fumbled the shot in the area in a situation he would want to forget.

Key Incidents plus the Opening Goal

The scene of the playmaker having to leave the field at the half-hour mark after damaging his joint during a misguided attempt to tackle Crysencio Summerville proved not to be exactly what the manager would have expected either. Although Viktor Gyökeres failed to score a brilliant pass from Saka that skimmed from the forward's header as Arsenal stepped up the pressure, it turned out to be Zubimendi who played a part in unlock West Ham's creaking backline. Eze’s attempt following being set up by the Spaniard was parried directly to the direction of Rice and he did well to place his follow-up on target. “Declan Rice, we got him at a discount,” chanted the home crowd, and the England midfielder not celebrating but rather taking a prolonged glance at the opposition supporters who had previously taunted him as he took a set-piece.

Second Period Control

West Ham were just content to survive until the interval as Arsenal – plus the superb Saka especially against the inexperienced Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf – saw weakness. Areola had a let-off that Riccardo Calafiori’s attempt which struck him after post did not trickle back into the net.

Nuno was seen frustrated in the technical area as Max Kilman lost the ball while dribbling seeking to carry out of defence. Gyökeres was close off converting Leandro Trossard’s cross while Arsenal picked up their dominance following the end of the opening period. There's more of an urgency regarding their forward game currently, featuring Rice so often the driving force from midfield.

Closing Stages

West Ham could not escape out of their own half and the coach's reaction was to replace Füllkrug and the midfielder for young attacker Callum Marshall for his debut homegrown talent Freddie Potts in midfield. It seemed like only a matter of time when Arsenal increased the advantage, even if they had a break that the referee, John Brookes, ruled Diouf’s contact against Timber to have occurred {inside the area|in the penalty box|