Hammers lose out in all-London clash
WHUFC.com
London derbies, under the lights; they're so often West Ham United nights.
But it was not to be on Wednesday in north London, as Arsenal ran out 3-0
winners at the Emirates Stadium.
With both sides enduring recent struggles in the Premier League, three huge
points were at stake, but it was the Gunners who claimed the victory thanks
to Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud goals.
The Hammers, back with fit-again skipper Mark Noble and influential winger
Michail Antonio in the starting XI, also named the returning Diafra Sakho on
the bench.
And despite the hosts edging the first half in terms of chances, it was the
Hammers who were the early pacesetters at the Emirates.
Manuel Lanzini was first to go close and scare the home crowd. Taking
responsibility from a free-kick just outside the area, the Argentine curled
an effort an inch too high, though keeper Martinez was left scrambling.
And five minutes later, it was again the east Londoners who looked the most
likely. Noble, stealing the ball in midfield from Mohamed Elneny, raced
towards the box and flashed a strike just wide of the far post.
Minutes later though, it was the Gunners' turn to hunt down the opener.
England pair Walcott and Danny Welbeck both went close before the former
lashed a superb opportunity high and wide after James Collins lost the ball.
Four minutes from the break, Slaven Bilic's men showed their commitment to
the cause as both Jose Fonte and Ginge put their bodies on the line,
throwing themselves heroically in front of Arsenal attempts.
As the second period begun, it was again Arsene Wenger's side who applied
the pressure. Ozil had a chance snuffed out and Mohamed Elneny pinged a
volley just wide.
But on 58 minutes, that pressure finally told. Ozil, picking up the ball
just outside the box but in plenty of space, sized up his options before
curling an attempt into the bottom corner.
Darren Randolph will have been disappointed with his efforts to deny the
German, though he made up for the error moments later, blocking Danny
Welbeck's one-on-one from point blank range.
West Ham introduced Sakho - making his first appearance since scoring at Old
Trafford in November - in the hope of snatching an equaliser, but instead
they found themselves with a mountain to climb.
Playing a neat one-two with Alexis Sanchez, Ozil was again at the heart of
the Gunners' goal, crossing perfectly for captain Walcott to double the
hosts' lead and make it 2-0.
Lanzini led the charge to reduce the deficit, stinging the palms of Martinez
with a quarter of an hour remaining, but the Hammers could simply not a find
a way back into the game.
And so Arsenal grabbed a third. Giroud, a substitute, this time the scorer,
curling beautifully beyond the helpless Randolph into the far corner. Game,
set and match at the Emirates, and the Hammers now look ahead to a vital
home contest with Swansea City on Saturday.
Arsenal: Martinez, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny
(Ramsey 81), Walcott (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81), Ozil, Welbeck (Giroud 74),
Sanchez.
Subs not used: Gibbs, Mertesacker, Iwobi, Macey.
Goals: Ozil 58, Walcott 69, Giroud 83
Bookings: Bellerin 18
West Ham United: Randolph, Byram, Collins, Fonte, Masuaku, Noble (Fernandes
80), Kouyate, Antonio (Snodgrass 46), Lanzini, Ayew, Carroll (Sakho 63).
Subs not used: Nordtveit, Feghouli, Adrian, Calleri.
Bookings: Lanzini 39, Byram 77
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Noble - We need to reward the fans
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble says his team are eager to pay the fans back for their excellent
support with a positive result against Swansea City on Saturday
The Hammers suffered a 3-0 defeat when they took on Arsenal in an all-London
clash on Wednesday night
But the squad's focus is fully on the task in hand at London Stadium at the
weekend, according to the skipper
Club captain Mark Noble says the whole squad are desperate to give something
back to the fans when they take on Swansea City at London Stadium on
Saturday.
After West Ham United suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the
Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, the skipper outlined how crucial the
supporters will be when they take on the Swans.
Goals from Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud gave the hosts all
three points in the London derby, but according to Noble, the entire team's
focus has already switched to making amends on Saturday.
He said: "We need the fans on Saturday for sure, all of them in full voice
and let's hope we can reward them and give them a little bit of something
back with three points.
"We're obviously disappointed with the defeat. We know deep down that we
have to forget about that as quickly as we can and get a win on Saturday.
All our thoughts and efforts now this game has finished are onto Swansea on
Saturday.
"In my eyes, it's the biggest game we've had for a long time. We need to
get the three points, simple as. We have Swansea and Sunderland in the next
two and we need points in both of those games to ease the pressure."
West Ham defended well in the first period in north London, shutting out the
hosts on a number of occasions and nearly taking the lead themselves through
both Manuel Lanzini and Noble himself, who was returning to the starting
lineup after a recovering from injury.
But the captain pointed to Ozil's early second half goal as the turning
point, after which Arsene Wenger's side found their rhythm and added to
their lead.
"The first goal killed us really," he continued. "We defended so well in the
first half and then when you get that little bit of misfortune and a couple
of players run across Daz [Randolph] and he doesn't see it, that's what
happens.
"That goal really killed us and we couldn't hold on after that.
"The group and the team are remaining positive and if you're not, it's not
good for the team.
"We need to just go about our business in the next couple of days
professionally and pick each other up ready to go again on Saturday."
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Arsenal 3-0 West Ham: Gunners register welcome win with second-half goals
By Gerard Brand
Last Updated: 05/04/17 10:03pm
SSN
Goals from Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and sub Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal a
much-needed 3-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday night in the Premier League.
Ozil gave Arsenal the lead on 58 minutes with a left-footed shot from the
edge of the area, though Darren Randolph should have done better in the West
Ham goal.
It was 2-0 just 10 minutes later through Walcott, who struck home from 10
yards after Ozil's centre from a fine Arsenal move. The third came seven
minutes from time through Giroud, who curled a fine effort into the corner
from 15 yards just nine minutes after coming on. The result means Arsenal
are back in the top five on goal difference, while West Ham are five points
off the drop zone.
Arsenal were forced to start third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez due
to injuries to David Ospina and Petr Cech, and also introduced Gabriel and
Mohamed Elneny. West Ham had the better of the early chances, as Manuel
Lanzini struck just over from a free-kick, before Mark Noble missed the far
post with a low effort from inside the area. Arsenal had a strong penalty
appeal turned down by Martin Atkinson after Theo Walcott was hauled down by
Arthur Masuaku. The hosts nearly went into the half 1-0 up, but both Hector
Bellerin and Elneny saw their efforts from close range desperately blocked.
Arsenal upped the tempo in the second half, and got their opener through
Ozil's tame effort from the edge of the box, which Randolph parried into the
net. Randloph kept West Ham in the game for a few more minutes at least with
a good low save from Danny Welbeck's poked effort in the area, but he
couldn't keep out Walcott on 68 minutes. Alexis Sanchez's backheel found
Ozil down the left channel, and his centre was met first time by Walcott,
who drilled the ball into the bottom left corner. Bellerin slid the ball
just wide from Ozil's delightful ball over the top of the defence, before
Giroud made it 3-0 with a superb curling effort from inside the box after
being found by fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal were
denied a blatant penalty in stoppage time after Sam Byram hacked down Nacho
Monreal, but it mattered not as Arsene Wenger's side moved back into the
hunt for the top four.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Martinez (6), Bellerin (6), Mustafi (6), Gabriel (6), Monreal (6),
Elneny (7), Xhaka (7), Walcott (7), Ozil (7), Alexis (7), Welbeck (6)
Subs: Oxlade-Chamberlain (7), Giroud (7), Ramsey (NA)
West Ham: Randolph (5), Byram (4), Fonte (5), Collins (5), Masuaku (5),
Noble (6), Kouyate (5), Ayew (5), Lanzini (5), Antonio (5), Carroll (5).
Subs: Snodgrass (5), Sakho (NA)
Man of the match: Mesut Ozil
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