Defender Ben White’s own goal led to Arsenal’s 1-3 defeat at West Ham in the League Cup round of 16.
Manager Mikel Arteta retained five positions from the starting lineup in the weekend’s 5-0 victory over Sheffield in the Premier League, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Ben White, Kai Havertz, and Eddie Nketiah. Aaron Ramsdale made his first start since the third-round League Cup win against Brentford. Gabriel Magalhaes replaced William Saliba in defense, and Fabio Vieira replaced the injured Emile Smith Rowe. In the attacking lineup, Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard started in place of key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
On the other side, West Ham also made five changes from their recent Premier League defeat to Everton. Lukasz Fabianski replaced Alphonse Areola in goal, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Emerson took the places of Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell in defense, while Tomas Soucek and Said Benrahma replaced James Ward-Prowse and Michael Antonio in the attack.
Arsenal created the first dangerous opportunity with Havertz’s header that Fabianski pushed wide in the 8th minute, but it was West Ham who opened the scoring. In the 16th minute, from a corner kick taken by Jarrod Bowen, Ben White awkwardly headed the ball into his net as Soucek impeded Ramsdale. However, VAR was not used for this match, and referee Simon Hooper did not blow the whistle. “Ramsdale was fouled,” Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith remarked.
In the remaining time of the first half, Arsenal had more possession but failed to create clear chances. In the 25th minute, Nketiah’s header missed the target from a corner kick on the left wing. In the 31st and 36th minutes, Nelson had two consecutive attempts on goal, but West Ham players blocked both.
With a lack of attacking prowess and a porous defense, Arsenal conceded two goals early in the second half. In the 50th minute, from a long pass by Nayef Aguerd, Mohammed Kudus delicately touched the ball to eliminate Oleksandr Zinchenko and then shot past Ramsdale to double West Ham’s lead.
Arteta immediately introduced Declan Rice and Takehiro Tomiyasu. However, before these changes could make a difference, the Gunners conceded their third goal. In the 60th minute, Bowen’s shot from outside the penalty area deflected off Kiwior’s leg, making it impossible for Ramsdale to save despite getting a hand to the ball.
Afterward, Arteta brought in Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard one after the other, but the visitors only managed to score a consolation goal in injury time. Odegaard, from Rice’s pass, took a touch and slotted the ball into the corner, leaving Fabianski with no chance.
In the upcoming Premier League matchday 11, Arsenal faces another tough test as they travel to Newcastle, while West Ham is away to Brentford.
Starting Lineups:
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Emerson, Aguerd, Soucek, Paqueta, Alvarez, Kudus (Kehrer 89), Benrahma (Ward-Prowse 81), Bowen
Arsenal: Ramsadale, Zinchenko.(Tomiyasu 57), White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Vieira, Jorginho (Rice 57), Havertz, Nelson (Saka 66), Trossard (Martinelli 66), Nketiah (Odegaard 80).
