Arsenal blew the chance to regain top spot in the Premier League as they lost 0-2 to West Ham at Emirates Stadium in a game with very little for Arsenal fans to get excited about.
A one-match suspension for Kai Havertz following his 5th yellow card of the season vs Liverpool meant that the German was forced to put his impressive run of form on hold as Leandro Trossard took his place. The rest of the team remained unchanged.
Arsenal started well, controlling the ball and looking dangerous as a brilliant back hill flick from Martin Odegaard thread the ball through to Bukayo Saka who could only strike his effort straight at Alphonso Areola. However, it would be the visitors who took the lead as after a low cross was sent into the Arsenal box which the defenders couldn’t deal with, Jarrod Bowen picked the ball up and despite the ball appearing to go out of play, the forward squared his pass for Tomas Soucek to tap home into an empty net to open the scoring and stun The Emirates.
The goal definitely shook Arsenal, and mistakes were being made in possession. West Ham, now having something to defend, sat in a deep defensive block and Arsenal really struggled to properly break them down. They had 75% of the ball but not many clear-cut chances. Although Saka twice came close, first with a header which was tipped over by Areola, and another where he hit the post from a tight angle. The Gunners were frustrated and went into the break behind.
The second half started in similar fashion. And Arsenal began too look out of ideas and without a strong plan B. And despite all their possession, it would be West Ham who grabbed the all important goal as a brilliant delivery from James Ward-Prowse found the head of ex-Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos who doubled the Hammers lead and leave Arsenal with a mountain to climb.
They were however presented with a huge chance to bring the deficit back to one goal with half an hour to play as a deep cross from Ben White found Gabriel Jesus at the back post but the striker somehow hit his effort straight into the path of Areola who once again saves comfortably. Mikel Arteta’s team just looked void of all ideas and they weren’t helped by poor passing and a real lack of intensity or movement throughout.
And it could have got even worse for Arsenal as West Ham were awarded a penalty in the final minutes, however David Raya saved the spot kick to keep the scoreline at 0-2. And thats how it would finish, Arsenal losing at home for the first time this campaign with a performance to forget.
Arsenal don’t have too long to dwell however as they head West of the capital for another London derby at Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday.
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 7 – Didn’t do anything wrong and saved a late penalty
Ben White: 5 – Just didn’t impact the game at all
William Saliba: 6 – Not bad but certainly not great
Gabriel: 6 – Probably the best of a bad outfield bunch. Defended well
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 4 – Struggled defensively and poor in possession at times. Poor.
Declan Rice: 5 – When Rice is making mistakes you know somethings up. By far his worst Arsenal showing so far
Leandro Trossard: 4 – A player who has struggled recently and struggled again. Doesn’t suit that midfield position
Martin Odegaard: 5 – Better than Trossard as he clearly tried to get Arsenal back in the game but the captain just kept losing the ball and nothing really came off
Bukayo Saka: 6 – Looked the most likely to score for Arsenal but that doesn’t say much. Sr from his best night
Gabriel Jesus: 5 – Missed a sitter in the second half which will do little to silence the view that Arsenal need a striker
Gabriel Martinelli: 5 – Another player in poor form who struggled again. Nothing is happening right now for the young winger