Arsenal dominates West Ham with 5-2 victory to secure second spot

Arsenal surged into second place in the Premier League with a dominant 5-2 victory over West Ham, showcasing a stunning first-half performance that reignited their title ambitions. 

Mikel Arteta’s side delivered a statement win at the London Stadium, reducing Liverpool’s lead to six points ahead of the Reds’ clash with Manchester City.

Gabriel Magalhaes set the tone early, with Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz adding to the tally before Bukayo Saka’s penalty sealed the deal despite a spirited response from West Ham.

After struggling in recent weeks, the Gunners’ commanding display served as a reminder of their credentials as genuine contenders this season.

Chasing a first title since 2004, Arsenal have been revitalised by the return of captain Martin Odegaard, who was sidelined for 12 matches in all competitions with an ankle injury.

Since the Norway midfielder was restored to the starting line-up, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in four successive games, with Manchester United due to visit the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui had lifted some of the mounting pressure on him with Monday’s win at Newcastle.

But Arteta, who hails from the same Basque region as his close friend Lopetegui, showed no mercy as Arsenal seized control in an astonishing first half.

– Rampant Arsenal –

Arsenal won 6-0 on their previous visit to the London Stadium in February and once again they were unstoppable in Stratford.

Not for the first time this term, it was set-piece coach Nicolas Jover who masterminded Arsenal’s opener.

Saka curled in a corner and Gabriel capitalised on Jover’s clever routine as he found space to glance his stooping header into the far corner from six yards.

The visitors struck again in the 27th minute, with Saka and Odegaard linking superbly in midfield before the former’s pass was slotted home by Trossard from close range.

Rampant Arsenal were carving open the hosts’ defence at will and it was no surprise when they netted again seven minutes later.

Lucas Paqueta tripped Saka in the area and Odegaard stepped up to stroke in the spot-kick for his first goal since April.

With West Ham in disarray and shell-shocked fans already heading to the exits, Havertz piled on the misery in the 36th minute.

Trossard’s raking pass sent Havertz clean through as West Ham defender Max Kilman comically slipped, giving the German time and space to shoot low beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

Wan-Bissaka punctured Arsenal’s momentum in the 38th minute, breaking into the area and drilling past David Raya from Carlos Soler’s pass.

Two minutes later, Arteta wore a furious expression after West Ham left-back Emerson bent a fine free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.

But Arsenal’s unexpected wobble was a false dawn for West Ham.

Deep into first half stoppage-time, Fabianski accidently punched Gabriel in the head as they challenged for a corner, conceding a penalty that Saka squeezed past the Pole’s weak attempted save.

The combined seven goals equalled the record for the most in the first half of a Premier League game.

After Gabriel was forced off at the interval, Arteta’s only concern in the second half was avoiding any more injuries as Saka, Odegaard and Trossard all played on despite being on the receiving end of crunching tackles.