Morning all.
I thought Mikel Arteta’s team might have a tough afternoon at the London Stadium but as it turned out, the players probably had one of the easiest afternoons they’ve had in a long time.West Ham might sing about forever blowing bubbles but they had their own big bubble royally burst during 100 odd minutes of football. Before the half-time whistle blew, West Ham fans were heading out of the stadium and on their way home. They’d already seen enough.
Last weekend, sports writers and pundits talked about how the Liverpool game might have been very different had Klopp had a fully fit squad to select from, conveniently forgetting that Mikel Arteta had injuries to deal with too. Yesterday, Mikel Arteta had an even smaller squad to select from, with Oleksandr Zinchenko ruled out and Jorginho not fit enough to start. Three academy players were on the bench; Ethan Nwaneri, Reuell Walters and Mauro Bandeira. They were joined by Aaron Ramsdale, Jorginho, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Mo Elneny and Cedric Soares.
Once again it was a set-piece which opened the scoring, or rather, the floodgates. Just over half an hour of the game had passed, a few chances for Arsenal had been spurned, when we were awarded a corner. Up stepped Declan Rice, up jumped William Saliba and it was 1-0. 1-0 became 2-0 when Saka fired home from the penalty spot. He’d spurned two really good chances before being brought down by the West Ham keeper so yes, I’ll admit I was nervous when he placed the ball on the spot. He clearly wasn’t. 2-0.
Four minutes later it was 3-0. Another corner from Rice, another defender out jumped the defence and another goal scored. This time it was from the head of Gabriel . Seven minutes had been added to the first half and it was during this period when we nabbed a fourth. Martin Odegaard played the ball to Leandro Trossard who made a bit of space before curling his shot past Areola. Super goal.
Another goal came just after the hour mark. A second for Bukayo Saka which came after a cut inside on the right. A trademark Saka goal. Then came a stunning strike from Declan Rice. I thought the chance had gone when Odegaard and Trossard left the ball for each other but as the ball fell nicely to Rice, there was clearly only one thing on his mind. What a goal!
6-0 up, Mikel Arteta made his changes. Saka, Rice, Martinelli, Trossard and White were replaced by Nwaneri, Soares, Elneny, Nketiah and Nelson – as much as they tried, no more goals were scored but it didn’t and doesn’t matter. 6-0 is a fantastic result and with it, the goal difference between City and ourselves has been wiped. The difference between us and Liverpool is now just one.
After the game, Mikel Arteta told Arsenal.com:
It’s really difficult to do what we’ve done today against West Ham away and really pleased with the performance collectively and individually and obviously the score tells you the story of the game. The level of purpose and determination that we showed, how much aggression and the courage that we had to put pressure on the ball all the time. You know they’re going to go direct, how good we were in every duel and everybody was really, really alive to play every ball.
To totally play West Ham off the park was special. To send thousands of home fans packing before the half-time whistle blew was incredible and to score 6 goals away from home was something not often seen. As a team, I thought Arsenal were excellent.
For anyone who wondered whether or not this Arsenal team could perform well after thrashing Liverpool at The Emirates, well, the answer was made clear yesterday by 4pm. Yes, yes they can and they did.
We now have just under a week before we take on relegation threatened Burnley. During that time, there’s a chance Jorginho, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe and Oleksandr Zinchenko might recover from the injuries which kept them out of yesterday’s game. Thomas Partey should be a step closer to a return too. At this stage of the season, it would be a huge boost for Mikel Arteta to have an almost fully fit squad to select from, especially as Champions League football returns after next weekends game. Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber’s return is on the cards too although I’ve no idea when. Later rather than sooner I suspect for the Dutchman.
Lastly, I know you’ll be reading so thank you for the photographs. Too bad you had to sit in the West Ham section but hey, why not? I know I would.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico
Wonderful performance from Arsenal yesterday. Had a feeling We would beat West Ham, but not by that score line. Running into some serious hot form at the right time.
A little concerned with the injury list, but hopefully players will return over the next few weeks.
Good morning Rico, six nil is excellent, better still is the mix of scorers two from defenders, one from midfield and three from forwards. It’s that variety of goal scoring talent that makes Arsenal so unpredictable. 😉
Morning Pete, Cicero.
I had a feeling we might draw yesterday, based purely on the previous results but wow, what a performance.
I think players will be returning really soon as we push hard from here in.
There’s a part of me which thinks Arteta isn’t quite telling the truth when it comes to injuries. Better to say they’re injured than let the press type their ‘dropped’ stories. Or ‘Zinchenko liked off at half-time’ headlines.
Morning Rico and all.
I must admit part of me feels sorry for the west ham players when the see so many fans leaving before half time, as it was not that long ago we were in a simular situation.
However on the hand I was glad our player didn’t just sit back and defend our lead when 2 nill like they would have in the past, and kept looking for more goals.
I wonder if Arteta is looking at Nwaneri as a possible replacement for Elneny and ESR due to his injuries starting to build up.
Hi Rico.. nice read 👍
What a performance! I never expected to win by that many. My nephew is a ST holder at WH, so he got my son and I tickets, albeit sat amongst the WH fans, which made it very difficult to celebrate, but when Rice scored I just had to!! What a goal and what a performance from him. I was really pleased for him. The reception he received was disappointing (barring that section in the corner). What a way to silence them!!
The chanting on the way back to the tube “who put the ball in the West Ham net? Half the f*****g team did” 😁 So soon after the Liverpool game too, which I enjoyed equally as much (for obvious reasons!).
Imagine when we’re at full strength!! Things are looking good
Morning Geoff, I don’t feel sorry for West Ham or their fans. Not one bit..
Hi Sue, thanks.
Must have been great watching the fans depart early. I’d love to have been there watching as Arteta and his team thumped Moyes and his lot. Excellent performance all round.
Would have been better to win in front of a full stadium than a half full one
Morning Rico and Co.
Geoff you have my respect, getting up at all kinds of unGodly hours to follow the team.
We did Geoff 😂
Morning Kev. Good to see Nwaneri get some minutes. I’d have never known he was a teenager had I not already known.
I forwarded to post to my son Rico, he’s not really into social media but he was glad you liked the pictures.
He was actually quite cool about him and his mate sitting among the West Ham fans, close to the away fans, of course I worry more having seen the worst of the Inter-City Firm and their cohorts in the 70’s and 80’s. That experience stays with you, but he loved it.
I actually don’t want to see any of our good defenders leaving, it takes a long time to accumulate a talented squad and not long to sell them off.
The memory of Kolasinac, Mustafi, Chambers, Leichsteiner, Luiz, Sokratis, Jenkinson, Mari and Zac Medley are still very fresh in the memory and I don’t want a return any time soon.
Yeah Rico, wasn’t Ethan really good, the other senior players tell you about a youngster by their actions and it’s clear how highly he is thought of by his team mates by their attitude towards him.
Please thank him Kev.
I’m with you re the defenders, why change what’s not broken. I know Zinchenko gets caught out of position often but that’s how Arteta wants him to play. His injuries are a concern, as are Tomi’s but once Timber is back, their fitness should be able to be managed better.
Even Raya seems more settled in goal although I’m still not 100% on him.
Nwaneri must be hoping for a place in the squad next season Kev. He’s just oozes confidence but a great game to bring him into.
Lewis-Skelly is another to keep an eye on isn’t he?
Just repeating what I said earlier today, I wonder if Arteta is looking at Nwaneri, to replace Elneny or ESR due to the amount of injuries he has suffered.
Kev, I just wished I could have the opportunity to see play live, especially for the FA Cup.
Nwaneri looks a foot taller than when he made his debut a year ago!
Funny how the Rice booing stopped as the stadium emptied, showed the fans who stayed till the end had a lot more class, just a shame that most of those that booed didn’t see his great strike 🙂
Can’t see ESR going anywhere soon.
I don’t know why West Ham would boo Rice after all he’s given them. Without him, they’d not have won a European Cup I’m sure… idiots.
I really thought this would be a perfect game for Smith Rowe to start but of course he couldn’t go through 2 weeks fit. I wonder now if he’ll get another start .. it could be him back to subbing at best.
Nwaneri was able to get on because of him and Vieira being out, so that’s a positive consequence.
I’m beginning to get excited for champions league games soon.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke explains our game well. Good to read from a tactical guy other than the failed manager Gary Neville.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-analysed-how-we-hammered-hammers
You’ll make it one day Geoff…
Yes Rico, the bar has been set a lot higher by Arteta but as you say Myles Lewis Skelly definitely seems to have the required quality to make our first team alongside Nwaneri.
The MSM arseholes have been deafeningly quiet since Sunday.
Let them rot in their misery.
not in Spain papers have used words meaning destruction and devastation. looks like we are making people abroad sit up and notice
what are Porto saying JM ?
It’s always the same here. I bet the media hated Wenger’s first ten years… Meanwhile, everywhere was looking at us going wow!
We’re not there yet, but I reckon we’re in the right path.
As much as the top of ladder is getting more exciting each week, the bottom end is getting interesting too with 15 place crystal palace now only 5 points clear of 3rd bottom placed Everton.
The relegation is often more exciting than the top Geoff. Unless you’re a fane of one of the relegation contenders. Thankfully, we’re not.
RIP Steve Wright. What a shock! 🥲🥲
Hi Rico.. Gavin and Stacey is set to return for another Christmas special. About time hey?! Lush… haha
Hi Sue, I saw that earlier. I’m cocking pleased… lol
The original Gavin and Stacey series was a great program. But I just can’t see another “Christmas Special” being that good. Why can’t they come up with something new?
Fans wanted it Cicero, it’ll be funny I’m sure.
New post up.