Slick Arsenal heighten West Ham’s relegation fears
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Updated 05/04/2017 at 21:48 GMT
Premier League, Emirates Stadium – Arsenal 3 (Ozil 58, Walcott 68, Giroud 83) West Ham United 0
Arsenal's Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their second goal with Mesut Ozil
Image credit: Reuters
Goals from Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and substitute Olivier Giroud threw West Ham right back into the relegation mixer and eased the mounting pressure on Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners came into the match amidst growing dissatisfaction from fans surrounding the future of their manager and an almost half-full crowd reflected just that.
A tepid first half, in which the home side mustered only one shot on target, didn’t bode well. But Arsenal then turned on the kind of football they’re renowned for, Ozil’s speculative shot bouncing in front of Darren Randolph and setting them on their way.
Randolph may have been at fault for the opener but had little chance with the others, Alexis Sanchez and Ozil combining to set up Walcott before Olivier Giroud came off the bench to settle matters with a beautiful curling shot inside the far corner.
Victory for Arsenal means they climb back above Manchester United to fifth in the table but for the unhappy Hammers, five defeats on the bounce leaves them only four points above the drop zone and leaves Slaven Bilic in an uncomfortable position that his opposite number will be well accustomed to.
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Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their third goal with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT
Arsene out of danger again? That’s the kind of performance that will have Arsenal purists purring but they’ve been far too inconsistent this season. Fans won’t be convinced just yet.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal): Scored the first and set up Walcott for the second. Put in the kind of performance so familiar of last season.
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Arsenal's Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Martinez 6, Bellerin 7, Mustafi 6, Gabriel 6, Monreal 6, Elneny 6, Xhaka 6, Walcott 7, Ozil 8, Alexis 7, Welbeck 6. SUBS: Ramsey 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Giroud 7.
West Ham: Randolph 6, Byram 6, Collins 7, Fonte 6, Masuaku 6, Kouyate 6, Noble 7, Antonio 6, Lanzini 6, Ayew 6, Carroll 6. SUBS: Fernandes 6, Snodgrass 6, Sakho 6.
KEY MOMENTS
24’ – GLORIOUS CHANCE WELBECK! Sanchez clips in a free kick and Welbeck is unmarked in the box. It drops right into the slot and he misses the ball with his left foot! Should have scored.
31’ – CHANCE ARSENAL: Walcott played in by Welbeck following a slack pass from Collins but he skews his shot well wide. Another chance goes begging.
58’ – GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 West Ham: Randolph ought to have saved that. Ozil’s shot bounced in front of him but that’s poor.
68’ – GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: It’s a lovely combination between Sanchez and Ozil, who crosses for Theo Walcott so slot home.
83’ – GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 West Ham: Oxlade-Chamberlain feeds Giroud and he bends a superb shot inside the far corner.
90+2’ – BYRAM LUCKY: Monreal looks to have been chopped down in the box by Byram but the result is no penalty. Very lucky! Should have been off too as already on a yellow.
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Arsenal's Danny Welbeck in action with West Ham United's James Collins
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
- Arsenal become the third club, after Manchester United (210) and Everton (200), to score 200 top flight goals against West Ham.
- Mesut Özil scores his sixth PL goal of the season, and his first since the 3-1 home victory against Stoke City on 10 December. It equals his best goals return for a single PL campaign (also six in 2015/16).
- Özil has now scored in each of his last three PL appearances versus West Ham. The Hammers join Norwich City (both 3) as the only opponents he has netted more than two PL goals against.
- Theo Walcott scores his sixth PL goal against West Ham, more than versus any other single opponent (5 v Manchester City), although it is his first PL goal versus the Hammers since his double in the 3-1 away win on Boxing Day 2013.
- Olivier Giroud scores his fifth PL goal as a substitute this season, an outright league high. He was previously level with Nolito (4).
- West Ham lose five consecutive PL matches for the first time since April to May 2011 under Avram Grant.
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