West Ham 2-5 Arsenal: Five-star visitors run rampant in first-half goal fest

Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League after a rampant first-half performance took them to a 5-2 win over West Ham.

All the goals came in a remarkable first 45 minutes at the London Stadium, with Arsenal taking a 4-0 lead after just 36 minutes.

Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring after ten minutes, before Leandro Trossard scored the second just before the half hour.

Martin Odegaard then fired the ball home from the spot, while Kai Havertz punished weak defense to beat Lukasz Fabianski one-on-one.

Yet quick shots from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson, who struck the top corner with a stunning free-kick, gave West Ham hope, although their chances of a comeback were quashed shortly before half-time.

Bukayo Saka, who also provided two assists, added Arsenal's fifth from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Fabianski tapped Gabriel as he tried to clear a corner.

It is only the fourth time in Premier League history that four goals have been scored in one half, but the Gunners put in a more measured performance after the break to ensure there was no drama.

Arsenal are now six points behind leaders Liverpool, who face a heavyweight clash with Manchester City on Sunday, while West Ham remain in fourteenth place.

A dominant victory in the London derby pic.twitter.com/Kufu1PjMbO

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 30, 2024

Data Debrief: A day away, joy

Arsenal were without a win in four in the Premier League, but they put that right in style on Saturday as they cruised past West Ham in the first half.

The Gunners have now scored more than five goals in five different away games in all competitions by 2024, the joint-highest total in a single calendar year by a top English side since Sunderland (1892) and Man City (1937).

Saka ran the show for them, registering his tenth assist in thirteen Premier League games this season, while being involved in fifteen goals in the competition this season (five goals).

All the positivity after West Ham's victory over Newcastle United on Monday seems to have already disappeared. They have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League this calendar year (68), with more than five goals conceded on four occasions.