There was good noise from the home crowd early on, cheers when Lucas Paquetá got an early challenge in on Bukayo Saka, the crowd hoping no doubt he is as engaged and effective as last time out. Early corners for Arsenal with West Ham on the defensive. Second corner and it was 1-0 Arsenal with ten minutes gone, Gabriel heading in from the kick as Paquetá was nudged gently out of the way at the front post.
Now the response would be crucial: Were The Hammers going to cave-in like last last time? The riposte 5 minutes later was a goal from Summerville, lobbing the keeper in a one-on-one but ruled out, correctly for being about half a yard off side. Got the crowd going though.
Interestingly, Arsenal repeat the same corner routine and again Paquetá is pushed off the header at the front post. No help from the referee, West Ham need front post reinforcements to combat that ‘dark art’. Where’s the defensive coach shouting instructions?
Arsenal’s second after 26 minutes: Odegard dinking a pass over the defence via Saka and Trossard walking the ball into the net. This is going to be a very long 90 minutes.
West Ham already looking lack-lustre and without the zip and energy of Monday. Paquetá hangs a leg out at Saka and a penalty is granted, This will be game over game over after 32 minutes. Odegaard makes it three. Gary Neville agrees with me, ‘game over’. The camera zooms on Lopetegui in the gods who looks like he wants to walk as the fourth goes in. Paquetá gifting possession leading to Havertz scoring on a one-on-one.
If I could switch channel I would. This could be a cricket score. I don’t think West Ham have even had the ball in the opposition box. And then – a gem sparkling like an engagement ring in a dog turd ( I’ll explain that one day).. Carlos Soler threads a through ball to the running Wan-Bissaka who fires in low. A goal back and something to cheer about.
Suddenly a ‘world’ free kick from Emerson nestles in the top corner and its 2-4. Do we believe? Briefly.
Right on half time Fabianski’s failed punch from a corner – his fist glancing into an Arsenal head-gifts another penalty to Arsenal. Saka this time to make it 5-2. And that has deflated the Hammers’ recovery. All this and it is just half time. Frankly, giving away five goals in a half is a bit pathetic.
Alvarez on for Summerville. God help us, how long will he stay yellow card-free I wonder. Gary Neville told us West Ham were now playing with diamond midfield formation.
The crowd cheered -possibly ironically- when finally Todibo laid a tackle on Trossard after nearly 60 minutes. The intensity had gone from the game, West Ham labouring but to no avail. Antonio withdrawn for Ings, Emerson off for Coufal. Found myself deeply envious of those London Stadium fans who’d gone home at half time. Saka and Odegaard withdrawn seemed to signal the end of Arsenal’s goal ambitions.
A bit of huffing and puffing by the Hammers -there was still time for Ings to miss after rounding the keeper and sliding the ball across the goal – could not hide the fact that in every department, West Ham were a very lowly second best. and are only competing for at best a mid-table finish.
An awesome match review sir. Thank you.
Yes, sadly we had so many average to weak players on the field against Arsenal.
Why is that, knowing the current form of Paqueta, and the weaknesses of Emerson, Max, Todibo, Soucek and even Fabianski.
And the major thing was Anthony Taylor’s blatant pro-Arsenal display. I count 4 goals that are completely questionable. Even the former Arsenal goalkeeper/studio guest thought the penalties were soft. Pity Jermaine Defoe could not see the same too.
Yes, and completely absent is the senior coach + his merry men’s involvement. And oh boy Ings + co came to strengthen the team. Ings showed his utter uselessness with an easy miss on goal. Could the new Brazilian boy not have done better. And picking Pacqueta + Soucek and leaving them on that long without 1x decent contribution?
So on we straddle along to the next football week, with what awaits us. At least we will again have the Fullkrug puzzle to work out, and Lopt in/out. Any guesses?
“the major thing was Anthony Taylor’s blatant pro-Arsenal display.”
As poor are West Ham were, Anthony Taylor guaranteed Arsenal victory.
When a manager doesn’t know he would face a touchline ban for berating officials and completely losing it on the touchline you know you’re in trouble. For all the optimism and energy from the Newcastle win we just knew like our dreams they fade and die.
What an absolute joke this manager and his so called coaching team are. Where was the pre match analysis and data then preparation from the defensive coach on Arsenal’s corners? Pacqueta caught twice just being shoved out of position at the front post and players not even facing the ball as they just outmanoeuvred, outsmarted and embarrassed us again. Only Wan Bissaka, Antonio and Summerville with Emerson’s free kick came out with any credit. The rest were an embarrassment. What planet is he on when he brings on Ings, Coufal, Rodriguez, Alvarez and Irving who have made zero difference for the umpteenth time this season? Finally having Antonio and Bowen as 2 strikers then 15 minutes later taking Antonio off and replacing with Ings! Fabianski distribution so poor and must be replaced. Conceding 5 goals in the first half is humiliating and it could have been double if Arsenal hadn’t stayed in 3rd gear.
For God’s sake get rid of Lopetegui tonight as the thousands of empty seats should surely show we have had enough. No more excuses and cliches of “we will work hard” go now before it’s too late.
Pathetic again..that’s all ..this will drag on ..went to bed at 2_0 ..you could see a totally different mentality from the Newcastle game ..absolutely privileged morons..no consistency…no fight or desire again just lazy Pathetic mistakes and just picking up therecwages ..the season is over imo especially if this bloke.stays
It’s seems like we got lucky at Newcastle in that they didn’t play well and somehow individuals played above themselves. Same problems again today as earlier games – ineffective midfield going forward or defending and no centre forward. You can’t just blame an exposed defence. Altough I think Areola offers more than Fabinski. Then the substitutions, can anyone explain how Alvarez, Rodriguez, Ings, Coufal and Irving could change anything? Especially at the stage of the game they happened. If anything give a younger player a run just as an opportunity – at least that’s an investment in something.
The best part in a story of much suffering: how the players managed to avoid the 6th.
Probably this would have been a good time to see a fast Guilherme instead of a too slow Ings.
Passing: still lacks the needed precision, the surprise and speed. Needs improving.
To be acknowledged: the spirit displayed by the team even after much punishment.
Also very good: Alvarez did well and avoided another yellow card.
A sad realization: Europe seems as distant as ever.
Couldn’t believe that Westham went 4-0 down faster than they did last season against Arsenal . This is symptomatic of JOKEpetegui’s idiotic tactics . This humiliating defeat should earn LOSEpetegui the sack . however much like Moyes’s 6-0 humiliating defeat against Arsenal should have resulted in the sack I expect Sullivan to do the same and dawdle until it’s too late . Westham will have the best stadium in the EFL Championship next season . Every other team in the Premier League is better than Westham because we have a piece of SH1T coaching the team .
Phil is divorced for sure
I still see Lopetegui being sacked sooner or later. I wish we’d gone sooner as it seems like Newcastle has only dragged things out. We’d never win any game with a first half hour performance like that. When fans go home at half time well what can you say ?
I think only if we are in serious relegation trouble will Sullivan consider sacking. Currently we are 6 points clear so he won’t do anything now.
Maybe if we lose the next two against teams below us.
For the first half hour we were so bad!
We just let the gooners play!
The second penalty was so harsh and it killed the game!
In the 2nd half, they just went down and feinged injuries, showing everything Arteta stands for!
If that’s the way to win then I don’t want to win!