Arsenal claimed a comfortable 5-2 win over West Ham United
Arsenal claimed a comfortable 5-2 win over West Ham United
Arsenal fans were left frustrated by the performance of two of their players despite their resounding 5-2 win over West Ham United on Saturday, November 30. The Gunners made it three wins since the international break, following wins over Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP last week.
West Ham and Arsenal contrived to produce a goal-fest in the first half of their Premier League encounter at the London Stadium. They scored all seven goals within the opening 45 minutes of the London derby. Mikel Arteta's side moved up to second after their comfortable win, their second successive win away to the Hammers following their 6-0 triumph last season.
With a packed schedule ahead of them in December, Arteta opted to bring on some fresh legs in the second half. He decided to rest his key players with the result all but secured. The manager introduced Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, both formerly of Manchester City, but their performances were far from satisfactory to the fans.
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Arsenal fans were left fuming at the displays of the attacking duo, and they made this much known with their posts on X.
A fan likened the duo to schoolboys.
"Jesus and Sterling like the two kids at school who never got in the XI so try and score with every touch at lunch football," they wrote.
Another fan claimed the duo made them forget they scored five goals.
"Jesus & Sterling 20 mins cameo have made forget our 5 goals," they posted.
Another fan questioned the motive behind the signing of Sterling.
"Still trying to wrap my head around Arteta’s decision to sign Sterling," they wrote.
A fan advised that the club part ways with at least one of the duo as soon as possible.
"Sterling AND Jesus as your forward options is very unserious. Need to bin and upgrade on at least one of them this next window," they wrote.
A fan put Sterling's struggles down to a lack of confidence.
"Sterling hasn’t got any confidence right now. The sterling of old ain’t turning back for that, he’s going for goal," they posted.
Another fan advised that Sterling be sent back to his parent club Chelsea.
"Raheem Sterling is skinny but overweight at the same time. I can’t believe my eyes. Too much dumpling and oxtail. We need to cancel his loan and send him back to Chelsea," they opined.
Another fan accused the two forwards of being selfish.
"Jesus and Sterling just want to score. They ignore players around them all the time," they wrote.
A fan pointed out that Sterling and Jesus playing together was bad.
"Jesus & Sterling on the pitch together is such an eyesore," they posted.
Another fan implied that the ex-Manchester City men were selfish.
"Jesus and Sterling competing in the selfish Olympics. Who is going to win Gold?" they wrote.
Mikel Arteta sent Sterling, who is on loan from Chelsea, onto the pitch in the 74th minute as a replacement for Bukayo Saka. At the same time, Gabriel Jesus was introduced as a replacement for captain Martin Odegaard with Arsenal already 5-2 up.
Arsenal blow away West Ham with first-half blitz
Arsenal secured a resounding win away from home against West Ham to leapfrog Brighton & Hove Albion into second place in the Premier League. The Gunners were 5-2 victors at the London Stadium, with all seven goals coming in the first half.
Gabriel Magalhaes headed home the opener from a Bukayo Saka corner in the 10th minute. The forward then set up Leandro Trossard to double their advantage in the 27th minute. Martin Odegaard added a third for Arsenal from the penalty spot seven minutes later, before Kai Havertz made it four-nil in the 36th minute.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka pulled one back for the Hammers after 38 minutes before Emerson Palmieri fired home a delightful free-kick two minutes later. Arsenal would have the final say in first half added time, with Saka scoring from the penalty spot to make it 5-2 for his side.