In a surprising turn of events, West Ham United secured a spot in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals by defeating Arsenal at London Stadium, marking their first victory against the Gunners in almost five years. The Hammers took the lead early in the game when Ben White inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, although Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale argued he had been impeded, citing the absence of VAR technology in the match.
West Ham Vs Arsenal Result
Starting lineups:
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski (GK) – Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Emerson – Alvarez, Soucek – Kudus, Paqueta, Benrahma – Bowen
Arsenal (4-3-3): Ramsdale (GK) – White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Jorginho, Havertz, Vieira – Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah
Despite a lackluster first half performance with no shots on target, West Ham came back stronger after the break. Ramsdale made a crucial save from Jarrod Bowen early in the second half, but West Ham soon found their rhythm. Mohammed Kudus and Bowen scored to extend West Ham’s lead, with Kudus displaying excellent skill and finishing from Nayef Aguerd’s long pass, and Bowen adding a third goal with a shot that deflected off Jakub Kiwior.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta introduced key players like Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice during the second half, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Odegaard managed to score a consolation goal deep into stoppage time, but it was too little too late for the Gunners.
Rice, who became Arsenal’s record signing in July, had a forgettable return to the pitch, facing mockery from West Ham fans after his substitution. West Ham’s victory ended Arsenal’s unbeaten streak against English opponents this season and highlighted the Gunners’ vulnerability in cup competitions.
Arsenal had entered the match in good form, coming off a 5-0 victory against Sheffield United and a four-match unbeaten run, including a win over Manchester City. In contrast, West Ham had struggled with three consecutive defeats before this encounter, making their triumph even more surprising. Despite the defeat, Arteta emphasized the importance of his players, especially the substitutes, demonstrating their desire to win and compete for a major trophy. Arsenal’s next challenge will be against Newcastle United in the Premier League, where they aim to bounce back from this unexpected loss and continue their strong league performance. West Ham, on the other hand, will face Brentford in their upcoming league fixture, hoping to carry the momentum from this impressive victory.
