Gabriel Martinelli scored the opener early in the second
half before substitute Emile Smith Rowe confirmed victory for the Gunners late
on.
Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette also had a penalty saved
by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the second half.
West Ham's Vladimir Coufal was sent off for a second booking
in conceding the penalty as he was judged to have fouled Lacazette in the box.
Coufal had been booked in the first half when his flailing
arm caught defender Kieran Tierney in the face, inciting protest from the
Arsenal players.
Tierney later hit the crossbar, while there were further
chances for Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel as Arsenal were the better side
throughout.
The significance of this result on the league standings was
felt in an intense and feisty encounter.
Coufal's unintentional foul on Tierney in the first half
incited protest from Arsenal's players, before referee Anthony Taylor quickly
defused the situation with a yellow card.
A few heavy tackles followed before Taylor had to speak with
Arsenal's coaching staff near the touchline.
The hosts began to dominate on the field though - as well as
Tierney's strike clipping the crossbar, West Ham centre-back Craig Dawson was
forced to make numerous blocks.
Saka was Arsenal's biggest threat down the right and he was
involved in the build-up to Tierney's effort, before he teed up Lacazette's
shot which was parried into the path of Martinelli and poked inches wide.
In the second half, Saka himself came close too, while West
Ham's best chances fell to Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen - neither really
troubling goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The sending off of Coufal - which West Ham understandably
felt was unjust - did not make too much difference and despite a late surge
from the visitors, Arsenal were able to see it off through Smith Rowe's late
goal.
Arteta named an unchanged side following Arsenal's win over
Southampton and his celebrations at full-time suggested he was happy once again
with this performance, where a number of young players impressed.
Despite a strong start to the season, West Ham have won just
one of their last six games in the Premier League and are now just three points
clear of Tottenham in seventh.
0 comments:
Post a Comment