Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 5 talking points as Gunners go fourth

December 15, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <h2>Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 5 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s side move into Premier League top four in first game after Aubameyang drama</h2> <p>There were shades of a certain No. 14 that goal. Take your pick which one.</p> <p>The Gunners continued bossing proceedings without killing off the Hammers, until the 66th minute when Vladimir Coufal was adjudged to have brought down Lacazette in the box. It was rather harsh to see a penalty given, although nice to be on the winning side of a VAR decision for a change.</p> <p>It was Coufal’s second yellow, and he was shown his marching orders, but for the first time in red and white, Lacazette saw his spot-kick saved. The game was not killed off until three minutes remaining in normal time.</p> <p>Emile Smith Rowe picked up the ball near halfway, drove into the West Ham half, and let his shot fly from outside the box with his left foot to get past Fabianski to secure the points on a superb night in north London.</p> <p>Here are the talking points.</p> <div id="attachment_121782" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121782" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359219799-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Gabi" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>1. Top 4? Who Would Have Thought?</h2> <p>Three games into the season Arsenal were rock bottom of the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a>: zero goals scored, nine conceded and zero points. It was doomsday for Mikel Arteta and his side. Fast forward a couple of months and miraculously, Arsenal is fourth in the table.</p> <p>While the club is not likely to stay there for long as Manchester United has a game in hand and Tottenham has three games in hand, it does show how far Arsenal has come under Arteta.</p> <p>Yes, there have been some serious bumps along the way, including the Liverpool drubbing and back-to-back losses to United and Everton, but as a whole, the improvement is plain to see.</p> <p>Far from the finished product, the fact that Arsenal has lifted themselves into fourth position is remarkable considering the start to the season. The hardest thing, however, is staying there.</p> <p>Given how the team played against West Ham, there is cause for a small hint of optimism around the fanbase that perhaps, just perhaps, things are looking up. This was the first time they’d found a top level of performance against direct competition for Europe. All the positive signs from other wins couldn’t be fully heralded until they’ve been replicated against top opposition.</p> <p>Now they have.</p> <p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Are you Sanchez in disguise? </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_121795" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121795" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359260509-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Gabi" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>2. Magnificent Martinelli Keeps Improving</h2> <p>What a difference three weeks makes. Shunted to the side for the majority of the season, Gabriel Martinelli has come back breathing fire. It was hard to see where his minutes would come from. Now it’s hard to see him being anywhere other than the staring lineup.</p> <p>His energy, willingness to close down, and appetite for the physical side of football are a joy to watch.</p> <p>The goal against the Hammers was eerily similar to a certain Frenchman that terrorized Premier League defenses all those years ago. His first touch was sensational before he opened up his body and calmly slot it past Fabianski into the far post. Even though everyone knew what he was going to do, the execution was such that the Polish keeper had no chance.</p> <p>Overall, in his last five games he now has two goals and two assists and is staking his claim for a permanent starting berth.</p> <p>On his current form, Martinelli is undroppable as every time the ball is at his feet, it feels like something is going to happen. It is exciting to see yet <em>another</em> young player prove themselves on the biggest stage. For Martinelli, like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, the world is his oyster.</p> <p>Man of the Match.</p> <p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Third time is the charm </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_121796" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121796" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359242832-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, MA" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal gives their team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. Arteta Keeps the Faith With Same Starting Lineup</h2> <p>Arteta fielded the same starting lineup for the third consecutive league game against West Ham, and we can see why. Every single player produced an outstanding display for the second game running.</p> <p>The performance was full of commitment, passion, relentlessness, and most importantly, three points. From the outset it was clear that Arsenal was up for it, buoyed by <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/11/arsenal-player-ratings-southampton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their win over Southampton</a> last time out. The intent and execution from home side put West Ham to the sword in comfortable fashion.</p> <p>Time after time, the likes of Martinelli and Saka got in behind the Hammers back four albeit without reward, but the threat was constant with Masuaku in particular having a torrid evening. Martin Odegaard again put in a good performance, and is another player who is benefiting from a consistent run in the team.</p> <p>The back four was superb with Michail Antonio not getting a sniff, keeping a clean sheet in consecutive games to give the team a positive goal difference for the first time this season(!). Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey performed reasonably well without standing out, as the attackers took the game over.</p> <p>Consistency is the key for Arteta’s young side and on Wednesday night, they showed just what they are capable of when given the confidence to be themselves on the pitch and be proactive in the game. It is fair to say that the Arsenal fanbase has faith in Arteta’s regime and this glorious batch of young players, even with the horror bumps in the road we have recently witnessed.</p> <p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Arsenal are a lucky club </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_121794" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121794" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359260567-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, B" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>4. Sensational Saka is a Special Talent</h2> <p>What can you say that hasn’t already been said about Saka?</p> <p>His performance against the Hammers was a stark reminder of the unreal quality this young star has. Poor Masuaku will be having nightmares for the next decade after Saka <em>tormented</em> him on Wednesday night.</p> <p>Consistently blowing past DR Congo international with ease and driving into the box, Saka was one of Arsenal’s supreme attacking threats along with Martinelli for the Gunners.</p> <p>Playing out on the right in this team gives him the toughest job of all, but he owns it. He dominates the right flank in a way 20-year-old’s tend not to. A truly special talent.</p> <p>While his game did not produce a goal, it had everything else: pace, directness, trickery, and everything in between. We know Arsenal are lucky to have this boy, but against West Ham, we got a glimpse of just how magical he is at his tender age.</p> <p>Arsenal’s talisman without a doubt.</p> <p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 5. Hello darkness my old friend </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_121648" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121648" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1348147090-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Auba" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO BLACK &amp; WHITE) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>5. No Way Back for Aubameyang?</h2> <p>When the news dropped that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/14/arsenal-new-arsenal-captain-aubameyang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">captaincy</a> it was hardly a surprise. Twice, that the fans were informed of, Aubameyang has breached club rules and turned up late. This is a captain of Arsenal Football Club, he should be a leader to the younger players in the dressing room and Arteta was well within his rights to strip the captain’s armband from him.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_121791" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Aubameyang has been a superb player for the club, single-handedly winning that FA Cup against Chelsea and keeping the club afloat with his consistent flow of goals when others were found lacking. However, those have dried up and his form has warranted being dropped to the bench, irrespective of the other issues.</p> <p>It is hard to envisage Aubameyang getting another start for Arsenal given the form others are in. The bigger problem now is what to do with him. No club in the world would take on a 32-year-old with his huge wages, which were at the time he more than deserved.</p> <p>It does feel like the end for Aubameyang. A great servant for the club, his lack of understanding about the responsibilities to be a captain and how to present yourself as such has seen him be dropped by the wayside.</p> <p>Say what you want about Xhaka, but the Swiss is a leader. Not the best player by any means, (for the most part) he understands his role <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/14/arsenal-6-candidates-captaincy-auba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when the armband is on</a>. Unfortunately for Auba, his time at Arsenal looks all but doomed after his latest indiscretion and you can’t argue with Arteta’s decision one bit.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/15/arsenal-player-ratings-west-ham/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/arsenal-west-ham-5-talking-points-saka/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/15/arsenal-player-ratings-west-ham/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham </a> </div> </div> <p>Especially not after a performance like that, even if it had nothing to do with the armband.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">