Arsenal secured a big three points on the road in the first of several London-exclusive matches this winter. In what will perhaps go down as one of the maddest of the season, the goals were flying in at the London Stadium.
The Gunners took the lead against West Ham through a headed goal from Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian orchestrated the corner kick from Bukayo Saka perfectly, running to the near post and flicking the ball into the back of the net.
Saka was on hand to provide another assist after some beautiful passing with captain Martin Odegaard. The England international putting it on a plate for Leandro Trossard to tap in.
Then came a mental period with four goals, two-a-piece, first with Arsenal scoring through a Martin Odegaard penalty and Kai Havertz before Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson replied two minutes later – the latter an excellent free-kick that perhaps shouldn’t have been given after Declan Rice was controversially adjudged to have given away a foul. Saka then restored a three-goal advantage from the penalty spot after Lukasz Fabianski caught Gabriel in the face from a corner.
David Raya: Beaten at his near-post by Wan-Bissaka, but the free-kick from Emerson was perfect and it would be harsh to criticise the Spaniard for it. Calm distribution helped Arsenal out when the pressure was mounting from the Hammers’ press. 6
