Two-nil to the Arsenal

West Ham musings from the author of Massive, Goodbye to Boleyn, Hammers in the Heart and Irons in the Soul.

Arsenal 2 West Ham 0

I’m undercover for this one thanks to my Gooner pal. We’re on the halfway line with a fine view and genteel crowd, including Robert Peston and behind me a Gunner who saw his first Arsenal game in 1948.

Wan-Bissaka is back in the side, but feeling his way back is not the force he was in this fixture last season. West Ham win a corner in the first minute, which Fullkrug, under pressure, heads over, and that’s about it attack wise. Arsenal sweep forward and Timber forces a good low save from Areola. A goalmouth scramble sees Eze shoot over when he should score.

Odegaard makes PL history by going off after 30 mins for the third game in a row after a clash of knees with Summerville. But it’s a sign of Arsenal’s strength in depth that he’s replaced by the £60m Zubimendi.

The breakthrough comes after 38 minutes as Zubimendi’s fine through ball sees Eze force a save from Areola but Declan Rice strike home the rebound. At least Declan doesn’t celebrate. “Declan Rice, we got him half price!” chant the Gunners’ fans. It’s nearly two just before the break as Calafiori’s shot rebounds off a post on to Areola’s back and is scrambled away.

To be slightly positive West Ham work hard and do keep their shape against the possible champions. The Greek Bloke wins a lot in the air and has a decent game against Gyokeres, while Kilman also does well. We even manage to defend corners reasonably well. The away fans amuse themselves with a chant of “Who’s the wanker with the drum?”

But it’s still all one-way. Zubimendi chips over the defence and Diouf shows his inexperience by letting Timber get behind him. He brings down Timber on the edge of the box and the ref gives a penalty. Saka makes it 2-0. “You’re going down!” chant the home fans.

Fernandes is busy at times and Nuno shows bravery by taking off Magassa and Fullkrug for youngsters Potts and Marshall. Both are energetic but powerless as Arsenal play out a routine win. Very late on Bowen wins a corner and Marshall gets above Saliba only to head over.

Oh well, it was only two-nil and Arsenal habec spent £240m plus on Zubimendi, Eze, Madueke and Gyokeres. This was never a game West Ham were likely to get much from but Nuno will have learned more about his team and at least the discipline and shape looked a bit better against a top side. Let’s see what he can do in the two weeks before Brentford.

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Wan-Bissaka 5; Kilman 6, Mavropanos 6, Diouf 5; Bowen 5, Paqueta 6, Magassa 5 (Potts 5), Fernandes 6, Summerville 6; Fullkrug 5 (Marshall 5).

Massive: The Miracle of Prague by Pete May is available from Biteback Publishing, price 12.99.