Daily WHUFC News - 23rd April 2018

Late Gunners goals leave Hammers empty handed
WHUFC.com

Three late Arsenal goals meant West Ham United left north London empty
handed on Sunday afternoon after a 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. An
Aaron Ramsey strike was followed by two Alexandre Lacazette goals in the
final ten minutes to seal all three points for the hosts, who had been
pegged back by Marko Arnautovic's equaliser with 26 minutes remaining.
Previously, Nacho Monreal had given the Gunners an early second half lead
but David Moyes' men had fought back to get on level terms. Early on in the
London derby, it was the Hammers who looked the more dangerous and likely to
take the lead. Just after the ten minute mark, Edimilson Fernandes was an
inch or two from latching onto Joao Mario's clever pass, but it just evaded
him. That was a sign of things to come for the next ten minutes as the
visitors piled on the pressure. Next, Arnautovic out-muscled Shkodran
Mustafi and broke free down the left, but the Austrian's effort was pushed
clear by goalkeeper David Ospina. Moments later, Cheikhou Kouyate rose
highest in the penalty area from a Joao Mario corner, but could not get a
clean connection on his head, which dropped onto the top of the crossbar and
out of harm's way. But, riding the spell of pressure, Arsene Wenger's men
began to assert their authority and went close when Danny Welbeck curled
wide from 20 yards. The forward had a second opportunity ten minutes later,
nodding a Hector Bellerin centre over the top before Aaron Ramsey smashed
wide on the stroke of half time.
The Gunners' spell of dominance continued after the break and they soon made
it count. Granit Xhaka, who had already caused David Moyes' men problems
with his set-pieces, swung in a corner from the left, and it was met by
Monreal who coolly volleyed into the bottom corner. But the lead lasted just
13 minutes. After a Hammers set-piece, substitute Chicharito kept the ball
alive inside the penalty area, heading back into the danger area as it was
cleared. Eventually, the ball fell for Manuel Lanzini - also brought on as a
sub - who beautifully picked out Arnautovic at the back stick, and the No7 -
putting his goal tally for the season into double figures - did the rest,
smashing low and hard beyond Ospina, who stood no chance from the
left-footed strike. Game on. With 18 minutes remaining, the hosts thought
they had regained the lead, but goalkeeper Joe Hart was there to deny Xhaka,
whose 25-yard strike was heading for the bottom corner. But with eight
minutes remaining, the Gunners' second did come, after a mix-up between Hart
and centre-back Declan Rice. A Ramsey cross, intended for the head of
Lacazette, was left alone by Rice who ducked under the ball, which tucked
into the corner of the net. 2-1. And as the Hammers went in search of a
second equaliser, Arsenal proved too strong on the break and scored twice
more. First, Lacazette fired in at the near post via a deflection off Aaron
Cresswell, before Ramsey laid-off for the Frenchman to smash in his second
in the centre of the box. Game over, and a frustrating finale for Moyes' men
who were ten minutes away from an important Premier League point.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny
(Maitland-Niles 45), Iwobi (Aubameyang 70), Ramsey, Welbeck (Chambers 88),
Lacazette
Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Holding, Nelson
Goals: Monreal 51, Ramsey 82, Lacazette 85, 89
Bookings: Xhaka 41, Maitland-Niles 62, Mustafi 74

West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku (Carroll
86), Noble, Kouyate, Fernandes (Chicharito 60), Joao Mario (Lanzini 60),
Arnautovic
Subs not used: Adrian, Evra, Cullen, Hugill
Goal: Arnautovic 64
Bookings: Zabaleta 50, Arnautovic 87

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Arnautovic: There were positives to take from Arsenal defeat
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic says West Ham United have to take the positives from
Sunday's Premier League London derby at Arsenal despite losing 4-1 at the
Emirates Stadium. The Austrian striker equalised with a superb left-footed
strike arrowed into the bottom corner during the second half after Nacho
Monreal had given Arsenal the lead six minutes into the second period with a
volley. But a devastating final ten minute-spell left the Hammers empty
handed, as Alexandre Lacazette struck twice after Aaron Ramsey's cross which
floated into the far corner had given the hosts the lead for a second time.
Arnautovic - whose goal tally for the campaign reached double figures with
his latest strike - expressed his disappointment at the final whistle but
looked at what David Moyes' side can take from the performance. He said:
"There is big disappointment for us, of course - and we have to keep going
for the season - but we could have drawn this game, and in the end there
were mistakes. We know we should clear the second goal. "I think every
player makes a mistake though, and Declan [Rice] is still young and we have
to come back from this. "And we must talk about this game in training and
manage it together. We can take many positives from the game until 80
minutes but then it was disappointing."

The visitors began the north London clash in impressive fashion, creating a
number of chances and almost went in front twice when Arnautovic was set
clear. Shkodran Mustafi was there to deny him at the final hurdle once,
before David Ospina in goal palmed an effort away moments later. Cheikhou
Kouyate also hit the crossbar with a header, while Joao Mario tested the
Colombian between the sticks. After Monreal had fired the Gunners in front,
Arnautovic hit back with a deadly strike, arrowing the ball past the stopper
to level the scores and send the fans into raptures and the Austrian praised
the way his side played, at times, in the derby. "Until the 80 minutes
[mark], we played some very good stuff and had good chances. In the last ten
minutes, we just went over and sometimes this happens against the top teams.
"Against them, we know they go to the end but as I said the second goal was
an individual mistake and after that, we needed to stay organised. "We
couldn't do that and we conceded two more goals and it got away from us.
"Every point is important, so it would have been a good point today. We know
we are still in there, but I can't find any words after losing it at the end
[today]."

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Moyes: It was a good performance for 80 minutes
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager David Moyes praised his side's performance up until
the 80-minute mark at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday against Arsenal, before
the Gunners scored three times late on to take the points in a 4-1 Premier
League win. Marko Arnautovic had equalised for the visitors with 26 minutes
remaining on the clock after Nacho Monreal's opener from a corner. But Aaron
Ramsey's cross, which ended up the Hammers' net after a miss-communication
at the back, put the hosts back in the driving seat with eight minutes left
before Alexandre Lacazette put a gloss on the scoreline with a double inside
the final five. Moyes, though, was pleased with the way his team applied
themselves in the London derby up until the point of Ramsey's goal, and
claimed there were certainly positives to take away from the fixture. "To be
fair, great credit goes to our lads for how well they did and how they stuck
at it. Unfortunately, a young player makes a mistake and that's how you
learn; you have to come and get back at it and get better. "I thought we did
a really good job; we contained them for long periods, we played well enough
at times, we just didn't start the second half well enough and they came
back into it. "But look; we have had some good performances today, and today
was a good performance for 80 minutes."
After falling behind, Moyes introduced Chicharito and Manuel Lanzini in
search of a way back into the game, and both were involved in the goal as
the latter set-up Arnautovic to fire past Colombian stopper David Ospina.
And despite that initially benefitting the Hammers, the manager explained
his team may have ultimately paid the price for making the changes.
"Unfortunately, we probably just had too many attacking players on the pitch
and it ruined our balance of making sure we did a defensive job well," he
continued. "But we did have our opportunities too; Marko has been that guy
for us this season, and he's done really well, and he had that couple of
opportunities in the first half too, which I haven't seen back yet, and
Mustafi got back but I thought he would have been able to get a shot away.
"But he did really well. Joe Hart [also] was important; he made two very
good saves. We need them [goalkeepers] to make saves. "He made very good
ones at Chelsea, we had the same today. You expect your goalkeepers to have
lots of difficulties in these games. "Now, I do know that we need more
points to make sure we're safe. If other teams win, we have to make sure we
win ours."

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Wealthall scores hat-trick as Hammers put seven past Portsmouth
WHUFC.com

An excellent hat-trick for Kelly Wealthall helped West Ham United Ladies
claim an incredible 7-1 victory at Rush Green against Portsmouth. The Irons
took the lead thanks to a Hannah Wheeler header in the first period, before
Wealthall got her first of the game on 25 minutes. Rosie Kmita then made it
three before half-time with a great goal from the edge of the area.
Defender Jasmine Auguste got her first of the season from a corner after
half-time and Wealthall added her second with a cheeky finish on the hour
mark. Portsmouth found their way back into the game as a free-kick crept in
on 80 minutes, before Cara Connatser superbly denied the away side a second
from the penalty spot. Leanne Mabey then netted from another corner before
Wealthall completed her hat-trick late on. It was the away side that came
close to drawing first blood as Portsmouth hit the woodwork direct from a
corner in just the third minute of the contest, although West Ham were
comfortable in clearing the lines. On 14 minutes the Hammers took the lead.
A corner played into the area was well met by defender Wheeler, who headed
into the back of the net. Wealthall and Ellie Zoepfl both came close for
the Irons, with the latter striking the cross-bar with a header, before she
turned provider for the 17-year-old forward. Zoepfl's shot was well saved by
Levett but Wealthall was on hand to coolly tuck the rebound away. The Irons
continued to play beautiful football in the sunshine at Rush Green, and
added a third finish just three minutes before half-time.

Once again Zoepfl was heavily involved and this time her low cross was
missed by all of Portsmouth's defenders. Captain Kmita collected the ball on
the edge of the area, and curled home a sensational effort into the bottom
corner. Ten minutes into the second period Auguste scored her first goal of
the season, with the Hammers again finding success from a set-piece. The
left-back headed into the goal with a looping effort. Just five minutes
later and Karen Ray's side had five! It was a very smart finish from
Wealthall, with the youngster doubling her tally with a cheeky back-heeled
effort, after Zoepfl's shot was saved. Portsmouth found a foothold in the
game on 80 minutes, albeit in mildly controversial scenes, as the linesman
ruled that McLachlan's free-kick had crossed the line. Despite protests from
the West Ham players, the goal was given. It looked like the away side
would add a second just two minutes later after the referee ruled that a
foul had been committed in the box, giving Portsmouth a penalty. However,
Connatser made a sensational stop to deny Panting. Substitute Leanne Mabey
found the goal with a header with five minutes to go, before Wealthall
secured her deserved hat-trick from the same position in the dying embers of
the game.

West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin (Sampson 64'),
Auguste; Georgiou (Mabey 64'), Clark, Stobbs; Zoepfl (Chong 80'), Wealthall,
Kmita (c)
Substitutes: Chong, Burr, Mabey, Sampson
Goals: Wheeler 14', Wealthall 25' 60' 89', Kmita 42', Auguste 55', Mabey 85'

Portsmouth Ladies: Levett; Kirby, Southgate, Currie, Peck (Capel-Watson
64'), Sievwright, Albuery (Perkins 46'), Boswell, Panting, McLachlan, Quayle
Substitutes: Burns, Perkins, E-J May, Becca Bell, Sharna Capel-Watson
Goals: McLachlan 80'

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Wealthall: Hat-trick heroics are an "amazing feeling"
WHUFC.com

Kelly Wealthall has described her hat-trick heriocs as an 'amazing feeling'
after her three goals helped West Ham United Ladies overcome Portsmouth 7-1.
The 17-year-old's finishes, combined with goals for Hannah Wheeler, Rosie
Kmita, Jasmine Auguste and Leanne Mabey, extended West Ham's unbeaten run to
13 competitive matches in 2108, a run that has seen the Irons score an
incredible 58 goals in that time. Wealthall is delighted to have added
another three goals to her tally in what was difficult warm conditions at
Rush Green, as the Hammers and Portsmouth played under the baking sun. "I'm
so thrilled. Today's match was hard graft. It was a really hot game,"
Wealthall told whufc.com: "I always try to follow shots up in the penalty
box, and that's where my first goal came from. If the goalkeeper parries it
out it's an easy goal, so I try to follow them in and that's what happened.
"For the second one, I was ahead of the ball, but I knew there was no one
behind me, so I just back-heeled it in. It was a little cheeky! And the
third, the header from the corner, I just knew I had to header it downwards
and it had a chance of going in, and it did! It's an amazing feeling!"

The Hammers were beaten by Portsmouth 2-1 back in September and Wealthall
reckons Sunday's incredible win shows how far the team have come since that
contest, with the striker quick to praise the entire team and coaching staff
for their efforts in 2018. She added: "I was saying to Chantelle Mackie
after the match that it's amazing how far we've come. Portsmouth beat us 2-1
in September so to come and win 7-1 today just shows the progress we've
made. It's an unbelievable win and it shows the transformation in our form.
"Results like this show the hard work the girls have put in, the work that
Karen and the coaching team have done with us, and how much we want it.
We're still undefeated in 2018 and it's such a big turnarnound. "All the
effort we've all put in has been worth it and it's been a real show of our
confidence. We've beaten Portsmouth and we could potentially finish the
season above them now. It's massive and we're all so happy."

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