da pinnacle： Arsenal were only 0-1 up at West Ham with 70 minutes gone, but a crazy last 20 or so minutes saw the goals fly in and a 1-5 scoreline is what we ended up with.
da pinup bet： Indeed, it looked as if Mesut Ozil had netted the winner, but the game became the Alexis Sanchez show, as the Chilean notched a hat-trick, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also found the net with a stunning effort. The only positive for Slaven Bilic’s Irons was a comeback goal for Andy Carroll.
The result lifts Arsene Wenger’s Gunners up to second in the Premier League table, with just three points between them and London rivals Chelsea – they will, however, fall to third if Liverpool beat Bournemouth. West Ham, meanwhile, are now just one point above the relegation zone and have shipped nine goals in their last two outings.
It was a cracking game at the London Stadium, and here are FIVE pictures that summed it up…
Bad start for the Hammers
West Ham needed a positive start against Arsenal, but just minutes into the match they lost James Collins too injury. The Welshman may not be a world-class defender, but with injuries stretching Bilic’s options to breaking point, the Croatian could have done without him limping off.
Alvaro Arbeloa came on and the Irons shifted to a back four after starting with a three-man rearguard, and then the problems started…
Ozil: breaking hearts and records
Arsenal fans love Mesut Ozil, and it’s easy to see why. Sometimes the German’s abilities may be a little over-sold by Gooners, but he is a talented player, and his opener vs. West Ham an example of his quality.
Not only did the goal break Hammers hearts, but it also broke a personal record for the playmaker, who has now netted 28 times for Arsenal – more than he’s managed at any of his other clubs (Real Madrid, Werder Bremen and Schalke).
Spicy stuff from the Chilean
Leading the line for the Gunners, Sanchez has been a revelation this season. Although not the target man forward Wenger usually favours, the Chile international has proven himself worthy of his gaffer’s trust, and his first goal against West Ham was truly special.
Controlling a fierce pass, Sanchez managed to get the ball under his spell and slammed it into the far corner past a hapless Darren Randolph.
Carroll season
After another lengthy injury absence, Andy Carroll is back. The giant England international started the game on the bench, but he made it on in the second-half, much to the relief of Bilic and Hammers fans and capped his outing with a goal. With Simone Zaza having been useless and Ashley Fletcher still young, having the ex-Newcastle and Liverpool man available (assuming he stays fit) for the festive period will be massive for West Ham.
Super Sanchez…
Goals are like busses, and not long after the West Ham net had stopped rippling from his first, Sanchez made it 3-0 with another lovely strike from the edge of the area.
But it was Arsenal fifth, and the Chilean’s third, that caught our eye, as he raced through on goal before lifting a delightful dinked finish over Randolph.