Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: 3 talking points as Odegaard dazzles in Boxing Day win

Arsenal picked up from they left off before the World Cup as they defeated West Ham 3-1 at the Emirates on Boxing Day.

Three second-half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah cancelled out Said Benrahma’s first-half penalty to extend the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points.

The Gunners were excellent after going behind and produced a dominant display after the restart. It felt like a special night at the Emirates as the club welcomed Arsene Wenger back to north London for the first time since his departure in 2018. Seeing Le Professeur celebrate Arsenal goals again was nothing short of joyous.

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: 3 talking points as Odegaard dazzles in Boxing Day win

The game provided plenty of talking points, here they are.

1. Normal service resumed

Arsenal returned to their winning ways against the Hammers following a lengthy layoff from competitive action. After a superb first half, the Gunners found themselves behind but a second-half masterclass saw them ease past West Ham.

The win now puts some daylight between themselves, Newcastle and Manchester City as they put the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of their trip to Leeds.

Overall, it was a superb performance as Arsenal dominated from the outset.

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