West Ham have progressed through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after defeating a toothless Arsenal 3-1.
Here are five talking points from a night to forget for Mikel Arteta’s side…
VAR the talking point yet again
Arsenal will feel hard done by after West Ham scored the opener in the 17th minute courtesy of Ben White’s own goal. Upon closer inspection it appeared Tomas Soucek was pulling the shirt of the returning Aaron Ramsdale prior to White heading the ball into his own net. Fortunately for West Ham luck was on their side with VAR absent at the London Stadium, with the technology not introduced until later rounds.
Toothless Arsenal attack fails to get going
Hat-trick hero Eddie Nketiah was the sole survivor to Arsenal’s frontline after dismantling Sheffield United 5-0 over the weekend, but it was a poor night for the Gunners’ much changed front three. However, it never clicked for Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson, the latter were substituted 64 minutes in having not othered much to the match. The additions of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli made no difference to the outcome of the match in a disappointing night for Arsenal.
Magic Mohammed Kudus shows his worth
Much was made of Mohammed Kudus when West Ham forked out £38 million for the Ajax midfielder in the summer. After a reasonable start to Hammers career, the Ghanaian showed his quality with a beautifully taken finish as he doubled his side’s lead in the 50th minute. Nayef Aguerd’s long pass landed straight to the feet of Kudus, caressing the ball with his right heel before firing an unstoppable shot past Aaron Ramsdale with his left.
Rice returns to mixed reception
The homecoming for one of their own, but not the way Declan Rice would have envisioned it after his second half substitution. Whilst welcomed to a rupture of applause from his former supporters, the England international was subject to a chorus of boos from the Hammers fans as Rice made his way onto the pitch. A misplaced forward was met by sarcastic cheers from West Ham fans towards their former captain in a forgettable day for the 24-year-old’s new club.
Ramsdale fails second audition
If this was Aaron Ramsdale’s audition to try and return to Mikel Arteta’s first eleven, then he failed to deliver. No blame can be brought upon the 25-year-old for West Ham’s first goal after being fouled by Tomas Soucek, but the England international looked rusty and nervous on the ball, at times playing his teammates into danger. A further two goals conceded compiled the former Sheffield United goalkeeper’s day. A return to starting in the Premier League still looking a distant dream.
