Arsenal haven’t tasted victory in the League Cup since the 1992-93 season, and the now-named Carabao Cup won’t be added to The Gunners trophy cabinet this season with Mikel Arteta’s side well beaten 3-1 by West Ham at the London Stadium.
The Arsenal boss made 6 changes from the side that thrashed Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium. With Reiss Nelson, Aaron Ramsdale, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel all coming into the starting XI. David Moyes meanwhile went with a very strong lineup with former Gunners Fabianski and Mavropanos included in the Hammers XI.
Arsenal started well, controlling the game and dominating possession. WIth Kai Havertz coming close and forcing Fabianski into a save with a header from a free kick. However, that header would be Arsenal’s only shot on target until late into the second half as Arsenal failed to properly create against a West Ham side clearly up for a battle. And it was the home side that grabbed the lead before half time as a Jarrod Bowen corner was diverted into the Arsenal net by Ben White. Although, there was a strong suspicion of a foul on Aaron Ramsdale. The half-time whistle was blown with Arsenal trailing 1-0 despite having 8 shots to 0 from their opponents.
But if Arsenal fans were hoping for a second half reaction, then they were bitterly disappointed as West Ham came out flying with Bowen almost scoring 30 seconds after the restart. And that close shave didn’t wake Arsenal up as a long cross-field ball from the Hammers found Mohammed Kudus who touched the ball down and finished well into the far bottom corner to double West Ham’s advantage.
Things soon went from bad to worse when the lead was streched to 3-0 when Bowen’s effort from the edge of the box took a deflection and despite the best efforts of Ramsdale in goal, the shot found the back of the net. The Arsenal keeper perhaps should have doen better despite the defelction which will not do him any favours in his attempts to win his palce back ahead of David Raya between the sticks for the Gunners.
Arsenal however did claim a constellation in the final minute as Martin Odegaard finished well into the bottom corner from the left side of the West Ham penalty area. The goal did nothing to the overall match but will hopefully give the Arsenal captain a spring of confidence after a poor couple of weeks. Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side puts a poor night in East London behind him as he prepares for a tough away test against Newcastle United at St. James Park.
Player Ratings:
Aaron Ramsdale: 4
Ben White: 3
Jakub Kiwior: 5
Gabriel: 4
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 4
Jorginho: 5
Fabio Vieira: 4
Kai Havertz: 4
Reiss Nelson: 6
Eddie Nketiah: 4
Leandro Trossard: 4