So far this this season, West Ham have come from 3-0 down to draw with Tottenham and now lost a 3-0 lead when held by Arsenal. They have helped fashion two flawed classics of London derbies this season, and yet the ultimate winners on Sunday were Chelsea.
When David Moyes’ side surged into a dominant lead against a sluggish, shambolic Arsenal, they were set to go level on points with Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Arsenal’s eventual fightback spared them embarrassment but produced a result that did few favours to either of the participants. Instead, it simply offered entertainment in abundance.
Much of it was admirable. Martin Odegaard was instrumental in a seminal comeback, contributing to three goals without scoring or assisting any. Alexandre Lacazette was a galvanising force, scoring the eventual equaliser to reward him for a purposeful, potent performance.
Some of it was illogical. If Calum Chambers was chosen as a defensive right-back by Mikel Arteta, he proved extraordinarily creative. It was an illustration of unintended consequences. The selection of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the right wing backfired as he was ineffectual. Instead, Chambers provided the thrust on that flank.
In his days in Everton’s midfield, Arteta was evidence of Moyes’ prowess as a bargain hunter. There has been plenty more in the transformation of West Ham, but the Scot’s signings had a mixed benefit.
Between them, they scored five goals: three for the Hammers, two for the Gunners. Both own goals were unfortunate and despite that, it was the Gunners who showed their self-destructive streak initially. “This game is going to give me a few nightmares,” said Arteta.
“It is really difficult to stop some of the things we have been doing to hurt ourselves.”
But Arsenal’s spirited response meant master and apprentice finished level. “I am really disappointed,” added Arteta. “I cannot accept my team to play the way we did for certain periods in the first half and the goals we conceded. The second goal is unacceptable, the third goal is unacceptable.”
The opening 35 minutes were among the worst of his spell at Arsenal and the best of Moyes’ time at West Ham. “We played really well for long periods,” he said. There was evidence of alchemy as his signings delivered the goals, the first two within 98 seconds of each other.
The first was quite a way for Jesse Lingard to celebrate his recall to the England squad. It highlighted the confidence he now exudes after a wretched 18 months at Old Trafford. Michail Antonio escaped down the West Ham left to cut the ball back for Lingard to take a touch and unleash a rising, rasping shot.
The second goal was an indictment of Arsenal. They switched off when referee Jonathan Moss awarded West Ham a free kick. Lingard reacted best, taking it quickly and finding Jarrod Bowen, whose low shot squirmed in under Bernd Leno; like his defence, he ought to have done better.
Antonio was outstanding without scoring, but West Ham could rue the moment when, at 3-2, he hit the post from two yards. He did, though, play a part in his side’s third goal. Antonio met Vladimir Coufal’s cross with a downward header that glanced off Tomas Soucek’s foot on its way in.
“We played incredibly well afterwards and we should have scored six or seven goals,” said Arteta but for the Czech, the flagship success of Moyes’ buying in London, it was a tale of two deflections.
Lacazette met Chambers’ cross with a touch and a half-volley that deflected in off Soucek to reduce the deficit. They combined again, Chambers releasing Lacazette again when he lobbed Lukasz Fabianski but Issa Diop made an athletic goal-line clearance.
Chambers was not bowed. His cross was turned into the West Ham net by Dawson, scoring an own goal for the second successive game. Lacazette belatedly got his goal when he headed in substitute Nicolas Pepe’s brilliant cross. “The dressing room are devastated,” Moyes added.
