West Ham 1-2 Arsenal: 4 talking points as top four race heats up

2. Set Piece Specialists Strike Again

Whatever happens come the end of the season, when the list is drawn up for unsung heroes, Nicolas Jover needs to be on it.

Set pieces are never more important than in matches like this one. For anyone who believes having the ball on the ground and beating teams that way will continuously win you games, they are wrong.

On the whole this was a poor performance. There is no glossing over that. So sloppy with the ball at feet, when the quality is lacking and individually players are short, you have to maximise every avenue available to find the back of the net.

West Ham’s lack of taller figures on account of rotation and injury handed Arsenal an opening. The Hammers have been excellent in both boxes with dead balls all season and this team found a way to exploit their unforeseen weaknesses.

Holding’s header from a ball into a congested area allowed the Gunners to capitalise on height advantage, and then for the second goal it was all about keeping the play alive and knowing where to be and when in the second phase. Martinelli picked Gabriel out terrifically after he peeled off at the back post and it won them the game.

It’s not a fluke that Lanzini was involved in both goals. Where the ball goes and who to is all thought out.

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