Frank Lebouef explains why two Arsenal goals vs West Ham should never have counted 

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Arsenal were ruthless in front of goal in the first half against West Ham United on Saturday evening. 

The Gunners netted five times before the break, as Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka all got on the scoresheet, sending Mikel Arteta’s side on their way to a 5-2 win. 

The North London club’s Premier League title hopes will have been hugely boosted by this result, and they certainly now have some momentum on their side. Saka has sent a warning to Manchester United, ahead of the Red Devils’ upcoming visit to the Emirates Stadium.

However, as far as Frank Lebouef is concerned, Arsenal were fortunate to win by such a comfortable margin against the Hammers.

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Arsenal took an early lead at the London Stadium, as Gabriel connected with a Saka corner and nodded the ball home.

However, Jurrien Timber had to nudge Lucas Paqueta out of the way in order for the ball to make its way through to the Brazilian centre-back. 

On top of that, as Arsenal were awarded a second penalty just before half-time, there was an argument that the Gunners should have been penalised prior to Lukasz Fabianski’s fist connecting with Gabriel.

Former Chelsea defender Lebouef, speaking on ESPN, has now argued that referee Anthony Taylor ought to have pulled Arsenal up on both of these points.

The Frenchman said: “I think there is a little push on the first one, from Timber on Paqueta… And the last goal, because of the penalty, Gabriel jumps on one opponent, so it should have been a foul before getting a penalty.”

Did Arsenal get lucky against West Ham United?

Neither of the incidents cited by Lebouef were especially contentious, and were the kind of challenges that are occasionally called out by referees, but are let slide far more often.

Arteta will not feel that his side were done any favours against West Ham, and would instead praise his team’s ruthlessness, efficiency, and guile in the final third. 

Arteta has clashed with Premier League officials before, and had any of Arsenal’s goal on Saturday been ruled out for the reasons outlined by Lebouef, it is hard to imagine that the Spanish coach would not have taken issue with such a decision.