Arsenal knew that a victory would restore their place at the top of the Premier League table when they welcomed West Ham United to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
A 2-0 defeat for Arsenal meant that the mood matched the grim weather at the Emirates Stadium.
In terms of possession and territory, Arsenal dominated the first half. Club captain Martin Odegaard produced some dazzling flicks and tricks, whilst Gabriel Jesus also worked hard to pop up with some deft touches all over the pitch.
However, the only end product in the opening period came from the Hammers, when Tomas Soucek put them ahead in the 13th minute. Whilst there was a VAR review to see if the ball had gone out of play, no conclusive angle could be found and as such the goal stood.
Mikel Arteta will have been far less happy than his own former boss David Moyes when the teams were called in for half-time.
Just ten minutes into the second half, though, former Arsenal man Kostas Mavropanos added to the hosts’ misery as he met a James Ward-Prowse corner and thundered a header into the top corner. A dreadful evening for Arsenal was confirmed when when Declan Rice conceded a penalty against his former club in the dying seconds of the match. However, David Raya was able to keep the score down to 2-0.
Arsenal player ratings against West Ham United
David Raya – 5.5/10
Made a poor decision to try and block the cut back in the build up to Soucek’s goal. Saved the late penalty well, not that it really mattered.
Ben White – 5/10
Was dragged out of position too easily in the move that led to West Ham’s opener. Otherwise solid and tried to make things happen further up the pitch.
William Saliba – 6.5/10
Composed in possession and strong in his duels.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6/10
Was beaten by Mavropanos as the West Ham defender headed home, but the Brazilian centre-back was otherwise solid.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 4/10
Oleksandr Zinchenko was once again guilty of being careless in possession on multiple occasions in this match; a weakness in his game which has been highlighted numerous times before. There is no denying the £32 million former Manchester City man’s talent, but his lapses in concentration and defensive frailty are a huge problem for Arteta who does not even have Takehiro Tomiyasu or Jurrien Timber to turn to at this time.
Declan Rice – 5.5/10
Rice’s worst game for Arsenal since his arrival from West Ham.
Martin Odegaard – 6/10
The final touch was missing, but anything Arsenal did well in this match had the Norwegian at the heart of it.
Leandro Trossard – 4.5/10
Leandro Trossard’s set piece delivery in the first half was simply awful, and the Belgian offered little in open play as he was deployed in the left-eight midfield position in place of the suspended Kai Havertz. The German’s physicality, aerial prowess, and ability to make late runs into the box from deep was much-missed in this match.
Bukayo Saka – 6/10
Like Odegaard, tried to make things happen and showed flashes of quality, but no tangible impact.
Gabriel Martinelli – 4/10
A really poor showing from Gabriel Martinelli who looks short on confidence at the moment. Arteta recently described the Brazilian as “one of the best in the world,” but he certainly isn’t playing like it at the moment. Martinelli’s runs led to nothing, his crosses were aimless, and his finishing was wayward against West Ham.
Gabriel Jesus – 3/10
Every argument for Arsenal needing an elite-level new striker was on display in this match. Jesus covered every blade of glass on the pitch, but when it really counted and he was presented with a couple of excellent scoring opportunities, he failed to convert any of them. Jesus had a nightmare in front of goal and Arteta must now take action in the transfer market to bring in the clinical finisher that his side is sorely lacking at present.
Substitutes
Eddie Nketiah – 6/10
Reiss Nelson – 5.5/10
Emile Smith Rowe – 6.5/10
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