LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates with Gabriel Martinelli and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang after scoring their side’s third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on March 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis – Pool/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s official instagram account posted a photo with the caption “full focus” right before the match. Ironic, because the first 30 minutes of this tie were the worst 30 minutes of football I’ve ever seen an Arsenal team play, ever, and I watched both Bayern 5-1’s, and the infamous Chelsea 6-0 where the wrong player was sent off.
Passive, passive, passive. That’s the best way to describe the first half. It’s like we’ve spent so long trying to learn to score, we forgot completely how to defend. The best defense really is attack for this Arsenal squad. The first goal we conceded was unstoppable, though Thomas Partey should have closed down Lingard. But the second was reminiscent of our game against Southampton, in December 2019, under Unai Emery.
We conceded a very similar goal, off a quick free kick, and at the time (in my second ever piece for Pain In The Arsenal), I compared the group of moaning players to a quartet of hatstands: arms wide, standing still, doing nothing productive. And once again I have to use that term. Falling asleep like that is inexcusable.
And then the third goal came, and like the other two it was completely deserved. For lack of a better word, we looked s**t. There was no desire, no fire, no hunger. But as this team so often does, we fought back, and looked the better team until the halftime break.
Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham: Alexandre Lacazette secures stunning 3-3 comeback
But thankfully, our “Mr. Hyde” of a first half drew out our inner “Dr. Jekyll” in the second. I don’t know what Arteta said to them at half time, but they came out in the second half looking like a rejuvenated team, like they should look if they ever hope to compete with a frankly superior West Ham side.
We started as the Claret-and-Blues did after the opening whistle, putting the home side under the cosh, as best we could. It worked a treat, with Craig Dawson scoring an own goal off of a thundering Calum Chambers cross.
Substitutions for a knackered Xhaka and overplayed Bukayo Saka gave us our first look at a Mikel Arteta 4-3-3, with Pepe staying at the right wing, and Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Ødegaard forming a double pivot either side of Thomas Partey.
And within that space, we should have conceded two, and we bagged an equalizer off of Alexandre Lacazette’s beautiful bald head. Is 3-3 a deserved result? Absolutely not, it should’ve been 5-5. Ridiculous.
Arsenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) and West Ham United’s English midfielder Michail Antonio compete during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Goalkeeper and Defenders
GK: Bernd Leno – 5.0
Nothing he could do about Jesse Lingard’s thunderbolt early on, but he’s dropped a howler for Bowen’s sneaky goal two minutes later. Good save to deny Declan Rice at the death.
RB: Calum Chambers – 6.5
Playing him at right back was a tactical mistake. He’s just too natural of a CB, and did a horrendous job of covering the right flank. Most of West Ham’s promising attacks came down that flank, and Aaron Cresswell found far too much room. But he was a different man in the second half. His assist for Lacazette was lovely, and he assisted Craig Dawson’s own goal (is that a thing?) as well. In the opening 30 minutes, there was no question in my mind that he shouldn’t have started, but he turned it around, credit to him. Looked like prime Cafu in the second 45.
CB: David Luiz – 4.0
An odd performance by David Luiz, because normally he’s either brilliant or bonkers, but at least he’s present. He was entirely passive in this game, getting beat to crosses, and to headers, and generally not challenging for the ball. Disappointing overall.
CB: Pablo Mari – 5.5
He really does have lovely technical quality, doesn’t he. Made precise, excellent tackles throughout the match. His movement though, does have to be questioned, as does his ability to track runs. Played some sloppy passes too. Reasonably anonymous in the second half, but I certainly don’t mind that his name wasn’t called much. Solid showing.
LB: Kieran Tierney – 6.0
Almost played center-forward at times, and looked promising going forward, but has to be at fault for Jarrod Bowen’s goal. He’s not even looking at the ball, or the man, when the free kick is played. I love him but that’s inexcusable. However, he rebounded after Lacazette’s goal, to his credit. Wasn’t exactly the fulcrum of our attack in the second half, but looked to create throughout, and put in the double-block of the season against Bowen and Antonio.
The best defense really is attack for this Arsenal squad</a>. The first goal we conceded was unstoppable, though Thomas Partey should have closed down Lingard. But the second was reminiscent of our game against Southampton, in December 2019, under Unai Emery.</p>
<p>We conceded a very similar goal, off a quick free kick, and at the time (in my second ever piece for Pain In The Arsenal), I compared the group of moaning players to a quartet of hatstands: arms wide, standing still, doing nothing productive. And once again I have to use that term. Falling asleep like that is inexcusable.</p>
<p>And then the third goal came, and like the other two it was completely deserved. For lack of a better word, we looked s**t. There was no desire, no fire, no hunger. But as this team so often does, we fought back, and looked the better team until the halftime break.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a stupid game of football.</p>
<p>So bad.</p>
<p>And so good.</p>
<p>'Arsenal'<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHUARS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#WHUARS</a></p>
<p>— Pain In The Arsenal (@PainInThArsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"https://twitter.com/PainInThArsenal/status/1373679012204122117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 21, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham: Alexandre Lacazette secures stunning 3-3 comeback</h2>
<p>But thankfully, our “Mr. Hyde” of a first half drew out our inner “Dr. Jekyll” in the second. I don’t know what Arteta said to them at half time, but they came out in the second half looking like a rejuvenated team, like they should look if they ever hope to compete with a frankly superior West Ham side.</p>
<p>We started as the Claret-and-Blues did after the opening whistle, putting the home side under the cosh, as best we could. It worked a treat, with Craig Dawson scoring an own goal off of a thundering Calum Chambers cross.</p>
<p>Substitutions for a knackered Xhaka and overplayed Bukayo Saka gave us our first look at a Mikel Arteta 4-3-3, with Pepe staying at the right wing, and Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Ødegaard forming a double pivot either side of Thomas Partey.</p>
<p>And within that space, we should have conceded two, and we bagged an equalizer off of Alexandre Lacazette’s beautiful bald head. Is 3-3 a deserved result? Absolutely not, it should’ve been 5-5. Ridiculous.</p>
<div id="attachment_113286" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-113286" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1387,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1231855743.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1387" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1231855743.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1231855743-768x666.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) and West Ham United’s English midfielder Michail Antonio compete during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Goalkeeper and Defenders</h2>
<h5>GK: Bernd Leno – 5.0</h5>
<p>Nothing he could do about Jesse Lingard’s thunderbolt early on, but he’s dropped a howler for Bowen’s sneaky goal two minutes later. Good save to deny Declan Rice at the death.</p>
<h5>RB: Calum Chambers – 6.5</h5>
<p>Playing him at right back was a tactical mistake. He’s just too natural of a CB, and did a horrendous job of covering the right flank. Most of West Ham’s promising attacks came down that flank, and Aaron Cresswell found far too much room. But he was a different man in the second half. His assist for Lacazette was lovely, and he assisted Craig Dawson’s own goal (is that a thing?) as well. In the opening 30 minutes, there was no question in my mind that he shouldn’t have started, but he turned it around, credit to him. Looked like prime Cafu in the second 45.</p>
<h5>CB: David Luiz – 4.0</h5>
<p>An odd performance by David Luiz, because normally he’s either brilliant or bonkers, but at least he’s present. He was entirely passive in this game, getting beat to crosses, and to headers, and generally not challenging for the ball. Disappointing overall.</p>
<h5>CB: Pablo Mari – 5.5</h5>
<p>He really does have lovely technical quality, doesn’t he. Made precise, excellent tackles throughout the match. His movement though, does have to be questioned, as does his ability to track runs. Played some sloppy passes too. Reasonably anonymous in the second half, but I certainly don’t mind that his name wasn’t called much. Solid showing.</p>
<h5>LB: Kieran Tierney – 6.0</h5>
<p>Almost played center-forward at times, and looked promising going forward, but has to be at fault for Jarrod Bowen’s goal. He’s not even looking at the ball, or the man, when the free kick is played. I love him but that’s inexcusable. However, he rebounded after Lacazette’s goal, to his credit. Wasn’t exactly the fulcrum of our attack in the second half, but looked to create throughout, and put in the double-block of the season against Bowen and Antonio.</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/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Midfielders </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-113285" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1308276380.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308276380.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308276380-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Calum Chambers of Arsenal celebrates his side’s second goal with Martin Odegaard during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on March 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Childs – Pool/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Midfielders</h2>
<h5>RCM: Thomas Partey – 5.5</h5>
<p>Silent as the grave defensively in the first half. Popped out to the right flank to cover for Calum Chambers a few times, but failed to consistently track runs or pick up men on the edge of the box. His movement off the ball, too, did nothing whatsoever to break what a relatively subpar West Ham press. Needs to stop shooting from distance too, and by far our worst midfielder going forward. Grew into his own as the lone holding midfielder.</p>
<h5>LCM: Granit Xhaka – 5.5</h5>
<p>Struggled to contain the deep runs of Thomas Soucek throughout, as Partey continuously got drawn out to the right flank to cover for Calum Chambers. His passing, too, was a bit too slow. I do think he’s seriously fatigued; who wouldn’t be after nearly 20 games straight, playing the full 90 minutes in each. Made some excellent tackles when able, but was left stranded in the center too often. Subbed thankfully, he just needed a rest.</p>
<h5>CAM: Martin Ødegaard – 9.0</h5>
<p><strong>Man of the Match </strong>(by a country mile). Our best player in the first half, and the second. He pressed better than anyone, tackled better than anyone bar Mari, and passed more accurately than any other Arsenal player. If you closed your eyes and watched this match, you might’ve been excused to think there were two of him, given the comparative amount his name was called. He’s such an excellent leader too. I don’t care that the outcome was a draw, he was unbeatable today.</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/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Forwards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-113283" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1308270380.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308270380.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308270380-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 21: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on March 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Forwards</h2>
<h5>RW: Bukayo Saka – 7.5</h5>
<p>Dunno why he started on the left wing, because he started creating as soon as he moved to the right. His normal skillset all came to the fore, and it’s no shock that he got the “hockey assist” for Laca’s goal. Should have done better when the Frenchman returned the favor, but never stopped trying. Really came into his own in the second half, as he so often does.</p>
<h5>LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 4.0</h5>
<p>His first real action in the match was a fantastic slide tackle on Jesse Lingard, which puts in perspective his apparent mindset coming into this match after his North London Derby snub. He looked bright, ran hard, and was promising early on. And as soon as West Ham scored their first goal, he disappeared. Anonymous from then on out. He needs to start jumping for headers as well. By far our worst attacker on the night, and rightfully withdrawn for Gabriel Martinelli.</p>
<h5>ST: Alexandre Lacazette – 8.0</h5>
<p>He ran hard, I guess. Completely anonymous until his smashing finish off a Chambers cross. Brilliant first touch, brilliant finish. That was an angry strike, deflection be damned. From there, he really grew into the game, spinning defenders and dropping onto the ball, and really looking sharp in the box. And it was a stunning header to score what was technically his first goal of the game. Great showing.</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/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Manager & substitutes </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-113291" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/21/arsenal-vs-west-ham-player-ratings-4/"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%2F1231856110-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mikel Arteta" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s English defender Calum Chambers (L) shakes hands with Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta after the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Manager and Substitutes</h2>
<h5>Mikel Arteta – 6.0</h5>
<p>I was genuinely angry at him after the first half, which is ironic, given I might be his biggest fan. Starting Calum Chambers looked to be a mistake, and playing Aubameyang off the right with Saka off the left equally so. We were also so passive it looked like we had expected to play Olympiacos again, the onus of which cannot be entirely put to the players. But he did prove me wrong eventually, and rescued a 3-3 draw from a seemingly incumbent defeat. Great substitutions.</p>
<h5>Sub: Emile Smith Rowe – 6.0</h5>
<p>Looked to play as a No. 8, and his progression was extremely sharp, as per always. Made great runs, and tried to influence the game. Tidy.</p>
<h5>Sub: Nicolas Pepe – 6.5</h5>
<p>Looked to pick up where Saka left off, and it worked. Bagged a stunning assist for Alexandre Lacazette’s second goal, with his RIGHT FOOT! Created throughout his 25 minutes on the pitch.</p>
<h5>Sub: Gabriel Martinelli – 6.0</h5>
<p>A much better cameo than against Olympiacos. Looked to play with the fire that resounded in this Arsenal team in the second half. So energetic; playing at 100 MPH all the time. I just enjoyed watching him play.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
