Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 5 talking points as Gunners go fourth

If Arsenal fans were looking for a defining win of the season so far, I think they may have just found it. The Gunners’ 2-0 success over West Ham was sensational from start to finish.

Second-half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and substitute Emile Smith Rowe sent Arsenal into the top four for the first time in what feels like forever. It was certainly the first time this season. No need to remind ourselves of the unfortunate past.

The Hammers were never really in the contest as Arsenal’s energy, commitment, and all-around play were superb. The first half was all Arsenal as they did everything but score a goal with Kieran Tierney coming closest, forcing a save from Lukasz Fabianski who tipped his fierce drive into the crossbar.

However, the second half did not take long to ignite when Alexandre Lacazette slipped through Gabriel Martinelli who raced onto the ball and produced a superb curling effort into the far corner past Fabianski to give Arsenal the lead.

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 5 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s side move into Premier League top four in first game after Aubameyang drama

There were shades of a certain No. 14 that goal. Take your pick which one.

The Gunners continued bossing proceedings without killing off the Hammers, until the 66th minute when Vladimir Coufal was adjudged to have brought down Lacazette in the box. It was rather harsh to see a penalty given, although nice to be on the winning side of a VAR decision for a change.

It was Coufal’s second yellow, and he was shown his marching orders, but for the first time in red and white, Lacazette saw his spot-kick saved. The game was not killed off until three minutes remaining in normal time.

Emile Smith Rowe picked up the ball near halfway, drove into the West Ham half, and let his shot fly from outside the box with his left foot to get past Fabianski to secure the points on a superb night in north London.

Here are the talking points.

1. Top 4? Who Would Have Thought?

Three games into the season Arsenal were rock bottom of the Premier League: zero goals scored, nine conceded and zero points. It was doomsday for Mikel Arteta and his side. Fast forward a couple of months and miraculously, Arsenal is fourth in the table.

While the club is not likely to stay there for long as Manchester United has a game in hand and Tottenham has three games in hand, it does show how far Arsenal has come under Arteta.

Yes, there have been some serious bumps along the way, including the Liverpool drubbing and back-to-back losses to United and Everton, but as a whole, the improvement is plain to see.

Far from the finished product, the fact that Arsenal has lifted themselves into fourth position is remarkable considering the start to the season. The hardest thing, however, is staying there.

Given how the team played against West Ham, there is cause for a small hint of optimism around the fanbase that perhaps, just perhaps, things are looking up. This was the first time they’d found a top level of performance against direct competition for Europe. All the positive signs from other wins couldn’t be fully heralded until they’ve been replicated against top opposition.

Now they have.

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