Arsenal reiterated their title credentials on Boxing Day after coming from behind to beat West Ham United 3 goals to one, thanks to a stunning second-half comeback at the Emirates.
West Ham take the lead
He said Benrahma’s 27th-minute penalty had given the visitors an unlikely lead, but an explosive second half in which the Gunners scored three goals in 16 minutes gave the home side three points.
The result meant Mikel Arteta’s side have a 7-point lead over second-placed Newcastle at the top of the table.
David Moyes’s side came into the match with a clever game plan to play long balls into the heart of Arsenal’s defence, which Mikel Antonio could exploit with runs from Jarrod Bowen and Benrahma behind.
This clearly worked as Bowen was caught by William Saliba following a long pass that Antonio held and dismissed; and despite Arsenal’s complaints, the penalty had been awarded. Benrahma stepped up to score to give the visitors a vital lead which they held into the interval.
Saka transform game
The Gunners, however, looked transformed after the break with Bukayo Saka restoring parity on 53 minutes.
The young Englishman who had a good World Cup, collected the ball in the penalty area and calmly beat Lukasz Fabianski after Martin Odegaard’s left-footed shot went wide.
Five minutes later, Granit Xhaka found Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank and the Brazilian made a quick first touch before beating Fabianski at the near post to give the top of the table a 2-1 lead.
The chants of ‘One Arsene Wenger’ toured the Emirates in the presence of the legendary former coach.
Eddie Nketiah completed the rout in the 16th minute with a brilliant twist and past the helpless Fabianski into the Hammers goal.
Arsenal had turned the game around and the result squashed any claims that this young Arsenal side could crumble under pressure in their quest for the Premier League title.
The results see Arteta’s team 8 points ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who are in third place, after having played an extra game. For West Ham, Moyes is back on the drawing board, who is now under pressure and time is running out with his side in 16th place having lost 4 games in a row.
Photo Credit: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
