ARSENAL missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League thanks to a shock loss to West Ham.
Last season’s Prem runners-up suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to David Moyes’ high-flying Hammers on a wet and dismal Thursday night at the Emirates.
A controversial first-half goal from Tomas Soucek and an imperious second-half header from former Gunner Kostas Mavropanos condemned the hosts to their defeat of the season.
The North Londoners huffed and puffed to try and get back on level terms but spurned chance and after chance.
Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates and slates the displays of Mikel Arteta’s troops.
David Raya – 7/10
Not a lot he could have done for either goal. Good with his feet. Did not have too much else to do other than pick balls out of his own net before saving a late Benrahma penalty.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko – 5
Another nervy performance. A few nice touches on the ball but also some dodgy ones.
For some reason was tasked with marking Mavropanos at a corner only to lose hold of him as West Ham made it 2-0. Victim of some jeers from the home end.
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William Saliba – 7
Arguably should have closed down Emerson’s cross with more aggression before Soucek’s goal, but as calm and domineering with and without the ball as usual.
Gabriel – 6
It was his fluffed clearance in the box onto an unsuspecting Zinchenko that led to West Ham’s opener and was beaten to a header as Mavropanos doubled the visitors’ lead.
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Ben White – 6
Flicked header from a well-worked set-piece was nodded wide. Did not do enough in attack to disrupt West Ham’s stubborn defensive line.
Almost let in Benrahma late on but for a good recovery block.
Declan Rice – 6
At his sweeping, hoovering-up-of-mess best for large parts as he drove his team forward, going close with a long range shot just after the break.
Could only stand and watch at times at the lack of conviction from his teammates. Only blemish was slipping and giving away an injury-time penalty.
Martin Odegaard – 7
On it from the off. Incredible piece of trickery to put Saka in for an early pop at goal and again when he hit the post. Arsenal’s beating heart as they searched for a leveller.
However, guilty at times of overplaying when a shot was the better option, much like most of his teammates in fairness.
Leandro Trossard – 5
Handful of corners hit the first defender to the frustration of the home fans. Looked lost as he floated into the middle of the pitch up against Mavropanos and Ogbonna.
Was lucky not to be subbed off sooner than the 79th minute.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Marked out of the game well by West Ham down the right. Had a header from six yards well saved by Areola then smacked the post from a lovely Odegaard feed
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Barely in the game in the first 45 minutes, finding it tough to carve out any space for himself before blazing wide inside the box with a great chance. Rightly subbed off.
Gabriel Jesus – 6
Dropped deep to try and influence out of West Ham’s low block and his cute dink for Saka almost brought the equaliser, as did his dummy for Martinelli.
With Arsenal getting desperate in the second half, missed two clear-headed chances inside the box.
Subs
Reiss Nelson (Zinchenko 65) – 6
Showed glimmers of energy but not enough to force an opening.
Eddie Nketiah (Martinelli 65) – 6
Played out wide to accommodate Jesus. Hardly had a sniff.
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Emile Smith Rowe (Trossard 79) – 6
Almost got on the end of a pinged cross at the far post seconds after coming on.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
