ARSENAL had their way with West Ham at the London Stadium as Declan Rice enjoyed a scintillating return to his former club.
The Gunners’ record signing was BOOED by home fans but certainly had the last laugh as he provided two assists and scored one of his own during a 6-0 rout of the Hammers.
Three of those goals came in a devestating five-minute spell just before half-time as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel and Leandro Trossard made it 4-0 at the break after William Saliba’s opener.
Those goals prompted a huge number of West Ham fans heading for the exit and it didn’t get much better from there.
Saka scored again before Rice rounded off the scoring with a lovely curling long-range effort to make it six.
- Match result: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal.
- West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson, Johnson, Álvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen.
- Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
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FT: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
Arsenal have dominated this game from start to finish.
They have been criticised in the past for not creating enough clear-cut chances but they have answered their critics today.
The Gunners have now scored 16 goals in their last 4 games.
FT: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
The referee puts West Ham out of their misery.
It is a fantastic result for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Three points and a big boost to The Gunners’ goal difference today.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
90+2. Arsenal are frustrating West Ham further just holding onto possession now.
This will be a day both players and fans of The Hammers will want to forget very quickly.
Nwaneri tires to find Nketiah in the box but he is penalised for a foul.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
90. Soucek feeds the ball to Kudus who gets down the wing.
He uses his pace to get to the byline before crossing into the box.
Gabriel controls it on his chest and hacks the ball clear.
We are going to have three added minutes.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
88. Nketiah is fouled by Mavropanos in a wide area.
Chance for The Gunners to get the ball into the box once again.
West Ham manage to half clear the ball on this occasion.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
86. David Moyes will not be looking forward to that post-match press conference, that is for sure.
There will be a lot of awkward questions to field after this poor display.
Arsenal will take a lot of confidence from this result going into the rest of the season though.
Credit: Reuters West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
84. Bowen swings in a corner for West Ham but Raya collects.
Arsenal look to break at pace but Nwaneri is fouled.
They work it into the box and Nelson squares it across the six yard box but there is no one there to put the finishing touch on it.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
82. Arsenal seem to be trying to walk it into the net now.
Both Nelson and Nwaneri have the chance to pull the trigger but look for other options.
Elneny shoots from the edge of the box but it goes over the crossbar.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
80. Nelson wins a free kick for Arsenal on the halfway line.
This has been a depressing watch for the West Ham fans.
They have now conceded nine goals in their last two games.
View from SunSport’s Isabelle Barker at the London Stadium
THINGS are looking bleak here at the London Stadium with Arsenal fans waving hordes of West Ham fans to the nearest exits.
Cameras panned to David Moyes’ ice-cold stare on the touchline against a backdrop of countless empty seats after Bukayo Saka made it 5-0.
There haven’t been any chants aimed at the Hammers boss himself but the fans were serenaded to a chant of “there’s nobody here, there’s nobody here”.
To make matters worse Declan Rice hit an absolute screamer just moments later for 6-0 but chose not to celebrate and only tapped the Arsenal badge instead – prompting more fans out the door.
West Ham fans would be better off leaving at full-time today to avoid the crowds.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
78. Cedric and Nwaneri come on for Arsenal.
Arteta is able to rotate his squad and give players some game time.
White and Martinelli are the players to make way.
Credit: AP West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
76. Kudus is penalised for a foul on Martinelli.
The Brazilian seems to be in some pain out on the wing.
Meanwhile, Cresswell comes on for Emerson for West Ham.
Kudus is booked for his foul on Martinelli.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
74. Nketiah has the ball in the box and a sight of goal.
The Arsenal substitute hits his shot straight at Areola.
Big chance to extend the lead for Arsenal there.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
72. Nobody expected this scoreline this afternoon.
Many predicted this to be a tight affair with West Ham having beaten The Gunners twice this season.
David Moyes’ side seemed to have completely forgot how to defend though today.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
70. If this scoreline stays like this, or gets worse for the hosts, it will be Arsenal’s biggest win over The Hammers.
The Gunners are awarded a free kick as Soucek catches Martinelli.
Not much in that one, he caught the winger on the boot as they both challenged for the ball.
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
68. Rice, Saka and Trossard all come off for The Gunners.
Nketiah, Nelson and Elneny replace them.
There is still plenty of time left in this game for Arsenal to rub more salt in the wound of West Ham.
Credit: Alamy West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
66. Odegaard and Trossard both leave the ball for each other.
Rice runs up to the loose ball and strikes it first time into the far corner.
The former West Ham favourite refuses to celebrate the goal out of respect for the fans who once cheered him on.
Goal – Declan Rice (Arsenal)
West Ham 0-5 Arsenal
64. The West Ham fans will demand answers from this showing.
A lot of them have questioned David Moyes’ position this season, that will only intensify now.
This could be any score this afternoon.
West Ham 0-5 Arsenal
62. Odegaard touches the ball around the corner to Saka.
He has acres of space to work with, cuts inside onto his left foot and drills the ball into the bottom corner.
Things go from bad to terrible for the hosts.
Goal – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
West Ham 0-4 Arsenal
60. The Gunners’ fans are now shouting ‘ole’ every time one of their players pass the ball.
Arteta will want to see his side apply themselves for the entire 90 minutes and not take their foot off the gas at all.
In terms of a competitive football match, that ship has sailed now.
Credit: Alamy West Ham 0-4 Arsenal
58. Odegaard slides the ball through to Saka in the box.
He goes on a mazy run before getting a shot off at goal.
Areola saves it preventing more damage to the scoreline.
West Ham 0-4 Arsenal
56. Phillips looks the play the ball forward but Johnson ends up in a heap on the floor.
Saliba blocked him off but the referee did not see anything unjust.
More frustrations for the hosts in this game.
West Ham 0-4 Arsenal
54. This is all too easy for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Although West Ham have come out from the break looking to put more into their game, the damage is already done.
Moyes’ side need to get a couple of goals to put the cat amongst the pigeons now.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
