LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta wasn't happy with the entirety of Arsenal's display
West Ham supporters flooded towards the exits, scrambled back down the stairs into their seats and then still left in their thousands - all before half-time.
Little wonder, because despite a vastly-improved second-half performance, the gulf in quality at times between Julen Lopetegui's hopeless Hammers and Arsenal was so stark - the hosts could have been mistaken for a Championship side on the basis of how badly they defended.
They were torn to shreds by the five-star Gunners, who despite a worrying two-minute first-half blip served up five goals all from different scorers - Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, respectively - for the second consecutive match.
This pulsating thriller that understandably ran out of steam at the break, looked as good as done on 36 minutes when Havertz sent Mikel Arteta's hungry title-chasers into an astonishing four-goal lead. However, there was something bizarrely admirable about the way West Ham instantly forced their way back into the contest with two quick-fire strikes from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri - leaving Arteta furious on the touchline as he blasted his complacent players for handing their counterparts a shock lifeline.
Bukayo Saka overtakes entire Man Utd squad as Arsenal batter West Ham - 5 talking points
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Premier League release statement on Bukayo Saka incident during West Ham vs Arsenal](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-arsenal-saka-west-ham-34222442)
But Arsenal - inspired by their scintillating master of efficiency Saka - motored onto victory to go second and within six points of early-season pace-setters Liverpool ahead of their crunch Anfield showdown with Manchester City. And given they have now scored 13 goals in their past three matches in all competitions, it would feel naive to write them off.
It took rampant Arsenal all of 10 minutes to continue their red-hot goalscoring form, Saka's curling corner swirled towards the front post and was glanced home by Gabriel, who left marker Michail Antonio for dust, before nodding home his second header of the week after also netting in Tuesday's 5-1 Champions League demolition of Sporting.
However, Gabriel was left sweating just a matter of minutes later when West Ham thought they'd levelled before the intervention of the linesman's flag. Riccardo Calafiori sold the Brazilian short and his lacklustre clearance was blocked before Crysenscio Summerville raced through and scooped over the onrushing David Raya.
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Gabriel Magalhaes opened the floodgates for Arsenal (
Image:
David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal duly responded to the let off, Saka was the architect of a glorious interchange with Odegaard before squaring to Trossard to double the visitors' advantage. The Gunners were then awarded a penalty when unstoppable Saka beat marker Emerson before being chopped down by Lucas Paqueta.
After two assists, the England international turned provider again, unselfishly handing the ball to Odegaard, who coldly converted the penalty. Two minutes later, it was 4-0 when calamitous £40million summer signing Max Kilman failed to deal with Trossard's lofted pass, allowing Havertz to waltz through on goal and slide in his ninth of the season in all competitions.
Surprisingly, West Ham did not throw in the towel despite home supporters leaving in their droves. Wan-Bissaka rifled in his second goal in as many matches, beating Raya at the near post before Emerson rattled in a sublime free-kick that flew in off the crossbar.
Bukayo Saka was the star of the show ( Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Typically, there was still time for the Hammers to self-combust before the interval when Lukasz Fabianski was adjudged to have accidentally punched Gabriel from a corner when attempting to clear Saka's in-swinging corner. Fabianski, who was cautioned for his troubles, looked crestfallen as prolific marksman Saka squeezed the spot-kick beyond the ex-Gunner's outstretched arm.
Superb Saka is now the first player within Europe's top-five leagues to reach 10 assists this season while he is only one of two players, alongside Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, to reach 15 goal contributions in the Premier League this term. The 23-year-old's clinical penalty also took the game's first-half goal tally to a remarkable seven - which has only happened four times in Premier League history - for the first time since December 2012.
West Ham's second-half resilience should mean Lopetegui's job is safe for now but the future still looks rather bleak.
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