SPORTING NEWS
Seven goals, seven goalscorers and two penalties all inside 45 minutes. Arsenal claimed a 5-2 win at West Ham in the Premier League after a first half that lurched close to the absurd.
Mikel Arteta’s men made an assured start and another clever corner routine saw them take a 10th-minute lead through Gabriel, the Brazil defender having been passed fit before kickoff.
West Ham were abject for most of the opening period and their static defence were carved apart by a delicious Martin Odegaard pass and the recalled Leandro Trossard tapped home Bukayo Saka’s cross.
Saka was brought down by Lucas Paqueta, which allowed Odegaard to dispatch his first Premier League goal of the season from the penalty spot before Trossard’s lofted ball left Max Kilman sprawling and allowed Kai Havertz to convert a one-on-one.
West Ham were sinking without a trace, but Aaron Wan-Bisska steered home his second goal in the space of a week thanks to a wonderful slide-rule pass from Carlos Soler. Fellow full-back Emerson then fired home an emphatic free-kick via the crossbar to give the Hammers’ faithful hopes of the improbable.
Those were seemingly snuffed out when set-piece frailties again caught up with Julen Lopetegui’s side and Lukasz Fabianski clattered into Gabriel when trying to deal with a Saka corner. Fabianski got a touch on the England winger’s spot-kick but could not keep it out.
There were no further goals after the interval as West Ham posed further questions of the Gunners defence after Gabriel was withdrawn at the break. Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool
