Saka’s goal allowed Ceballos and Nketiah to make up
A late goal from Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal all three points after the English defender linked up with Dani Ceballos to score the winner, just seven days after the two players had a bust up in the warm up against Fulham.
Arsenal had a hard time finding their way to the goal against West Ham but were able to wrap up three points at the weekend. Lacazette put the home side ahead, but West Ham’s Antonio leveled the contest before the break. Antonio himself had a chance to put the Hammers ahead, but his header went to the crossbar. In the final minutes, a brilliance from Saka allowed Ceballos to assist Nketiah, who scored the winning goal.
Although West Ham surprised Arsenal and had the first clear chance of the game in an Ogbonna header that was caught by Leno, Arteta's men were the first to find the goal.
Lacazette opened the match with a header to centre of the goal from Aubameyang's cross from the left. With this goal, the former Lyon striker reaches 50 goals for Arsenal in all competitions and becomes the fourth Frenchman in the history of the London club to reach that number in time after Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Olivier Giroud.
Little-by-little the Hammers were able to deal with the pressure inflicted in their own half and in a counterattack at the end of the first-half, Antonio would have the ball in the back of the net thanks to a clinically timed ball from Friedericks' on the right wing.
Arsenal continued to dominate after the break, but while the possession was in the Gunners hands, the chances were those of David Moyes’ team. Gabriel distracted Antonio enough not to finish off a measured cross from Musuaku, and Leno ended up catching without too much trouble. That was by no means the clearest for West Ham, who hit the crossbar after a header from Antonio.
The Hammers turned the game around again and were deserving of a goal, especially a very incisive Antonio who was troubling Arsenal’s defense all game. But neither side was creating many clear cut opportunities as the second-half progressed.
Until Saka guided a phenomenal pass through the visitors’ backline and allowed Ceballos to assist Nketiah, who scored in an empty goal. The striker celebrated with the Spaniard with whom just a week ago he had a run-in with in the warm-up against Fulham in the opening weekend of the Premier League season. It was a happy ending for Arsenal despite looking off the pace and lacking in creativity through huge portions of the match.
Arsenal’s next Premier League match is against current Champions Liverpool at Anfield on Monday.
The Gunners go into this match as the underdogs as Arteta’s side look to replicate their Community Shield win over Jurgen Klopp’s men in the Premier League.
Currently Arsenal are priced up at odds of 11/2 to win Monday night’s match at Anfield with Liverpool odds-on favourites at 8/15 to win the match. Check out the full list of free bets here.
