Arsenal rally past West Ham after sensational second-half blitz

Arsenal resumed their title challenge with an impressive boxing day victory over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night. The Gunners scored three goals in 16 second-half minutes to come from behind and beat the Hammers in a feisty London derby, extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points and continuing their tremendous run in the league post the World Cup break.

It was a momentous night for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s side as Arsene Wenger returned to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since his departure in 2018. The former Gunners boss looked on from the stands as the North London side continued their momentum from the first half of the season.

Eddie Nketiah replaced the injured Gabriel Jesus for Arsenal up top and impressed in the opening stages. The Englishman was involved in a delightful move inside the first five minutes that saw Bukayo Saka find the back of the net, but the goal was chalked out by the VAR due to an off-side in the build-up. Arsenal dominated the possession throughout the opening 25 minutes, but it was West Ham that opened the scoring against the run of play.

Jarrod Bowen was clumsily fouled by William Saliba in the penalty area and Said Benrahma converted the penalty for the Hammers as Arsenal conceded the opening goal in the game for just the third time this Premier League season. Mikel Arteta’s side pushed on after that setback but couldn’t find the desired final action in the first period. The Gunners even had a penalty decision of their own overturned in the dying moments of the half, with Michael Oliver reversing his call after going to the pitch side monitor.

West Ham held on to their 1-0 lead heading into their break but were helpless in stopping the Arsenal charge in the second period. The league leaders levelled the scores eight minutes into the half as Martin Odegaard’s shot fortuitously fell into the lap of Bukayo Saka, allowing the 21-year-old to take a touch and slot it past Lukasz Fabianski to make it 1-1.

Gabriel Martinelli completed the comeback to put Arsenal ahead five minutes later, shifting the ball onto his left foot and smashing one into the near post from a tight angle to send the North London crowd into delirium. Eddie Nketiah sealed the three points for the Gunners moments later with an excellent piece of forward play. The striker turned Thilo Kehrer in the West Ham box and lasered his shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-1 to Arsenal.

This victory takes Mikel Arteta’s side to 40 points in the league after 15 matches, and the North London outfit will want to extend this winning streak against Brighton away at the weekend on new year’s eve.