It was a hard-fought, enthralling, and rather weird game. Officiating was for once favorable to Arsenal. But mainly, some excellent patches of play from the Gunners were the difference. The Hammers had their moments, but they did not look as though they were ever going to score. Ramsdale was that good. The first goal came two minutes into the second half. Martinelli made an outside in run from the left that Lacazette spotted, and he fed him a perfect leading pass. Martinelli took a sublime first touch and when Fabianski (who had a very good game) took his defensive stance, fired it Thierry Henri style past the keeper and just inside the far post. The game was still mostly Arsenal after that, and an arguable PK call sent Laca to the spot and Soucek off the field for a second yellow. Fabianski made a great save on the penalty (it's the third in a row missed by the Gunners), but West Ham a man down threatened only rarely. Still, it takes only one, and cheap giveaways almost resulted in a West Ham goal. The game was sealed late on by Emile Smith Rowe, who spotted his chance as he dribbled inside roughly 22 yards out. It was a fine strike to the goalie's left, under the outstretched leg of a defender, which froze Fabianski. The outcome was not in doubt after that.
This puts Arsenal briefly in fourth place, just above the Hammers. Tottenham have three games in hand, and Man U has one, and winning them would put them both above us. This was a game we had to win, to restore confidence as much as anything. This squad took on a good team in front of the Arsenal fans and handled them pretty well. The trick is to do this away.
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