Arsenal had the chance to cut the gap between themselves and Man City to just one point should they win, given that Man City would not play until later. After the win against United we were full of confidence. This was a West Ham team that had not won any of the last 6 games, with their manager coming under increasing pressure.
David Ospina returned in goal with Chambers preferred over Bellerin who was given a rest. Monreal continued at LB along with Koscielny and Mertesacker in central defence. Coquelin, Ramsey and Ozil started in midfield with Cazorla presumably rested for the Monaco game.
Alexis and Theo started on the flanks with Giroud returning after a rest against United.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal should have had a penalty with barely 3 minutes gone on the clock. Ozil picked out Giroud who flicked the ball onto Walcott. Through on goal Theo should have scored. Instead he dallied a little bit and Collins was adjudged to have won the ball although replays showed he fouled Theo.
Chambers gave an inviting cross from RB that Alexis headed and forced a good save out of Adrian in the West Ham goal.
West Ham got their first chance when Jarvis ran free from Chambers before finding Kevin Nolan with a peach of a cross. The West Ham captain forced a decent save of Ospina. The warning signs were there though.
Another cross from Chambers was met with Ramsey's thigh. The attempt lacked any real power and was tipped over by Adrian. Ramsey should have tried a diving header.
Walcott missed yet another opportunity after Adrian's parry of Ozil's shot fell to the English striker. It just seemed like one of those frustrating days.
Just before the end of the first half Arsenal took the lead. And what a goal as well. Ozil and Ramsey combining brilliantly, before Giroud took the ball away from Ramsey and finished emphatically. At last the dominance had a reward.
SECOND HALF
West Ham started the better side with attempts for Jarvis and Noble, both off target however.
There was the rare sight of the referee being replaced with an hour gone. Fourth official Anthony Taylor took the place of Chris Foy, who had fallen victim to a calf strain.
Ozil was pulling the strings in midfield and twice elected to pass rather than choosing the better option of shooting. Once to Ramsey and once to Theo, both attempts again off target.
Arsenal did double their lead however. Giroud and Ramsey yet again combined brilliantly before the Welshman got a goal his performance so badly deserved, via a left footed finish.
Cazorla then created a goal for an unlikely sorce. Mathieu Flamini scoring a tap in to be the 21st Arsenal player to have scored this season. Some record that.
Welbeck had a chance with almost the last touch of the ball, heading the ball and forcing a save from Adrian.
A well deserved win ahead of the Monaco mission. None the less ensured Arsenal went in to the Monaco game full of confidence.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7): Hardly had anything to do.
21: Calum Chambers (7): Suspect defensively but superb offensively, creating 2 wonderful opportunities for Ramsey and Sanchez.
6: Laurent Koscielny (8.5): Outstanding game shutting out everything thrown at him.
4: Per Mertesacker (7.5): Good performance by the German.
18: Nacho Monreal (7.5): Excellent game yet again.
34: Francis Coquelin (8): Made many sloppy passes initially. Got control over the game at a later stage and a good performance overall.
16: Aaron Ramsey (9): Made 5 tackles, scored a goal, an assist as well. Perfect all round display.
17: Alexis Sanchez (6.5): Not a great performance. Should do better and he will.
14: Theo Walcott (4.5): Terrible by Theo. Missing many chances. But I still believe he will start firing soon enough. He is getting into the right positions.
11: Mesut Ozil (7.5): Showed great understanding with Giroud and Ramsey. Should shoot when he has the chance though.
12: Olivier Giroud (9): Outstanding from the Frenchman. A goal and an assist. Some neat flicks as well.
SUBSTITUTES:
19: Santi Cazorla (7.5): Great cameo setting up the 3rd goal.
23: Danny Welbeck (7): Made some good runs.
20: Mathieu Flamini (7): Played at RW and to his credit got a goal.
HIGHLIGHTS
David Ospina returned in goal with Chambers preferred over Bellerin who was given a rest. Monreal continued at LB along with Koscielny and Mertesacker in central defence. Coquelin, Ramsey and Ozil started in midfield with Cazorla presumably rested for the Monaco game.
Alexis and Theo started on the flanks with Giroud returning after a rest against United.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal should have had a penalty with barely 3 minutes gone on the clock. Ozil picked out Giroud who flicked the ball onto Walcott. Through on goal Theo should have scored. Instead he dallied a little bit and Collins was adjudged to have won the ball although replays showed he fouled Theo.
Chambers gave an inviting cross from RB that Alexis headed and forced a good save out of Adrian in the West Ham goal.
West Ham got their first chance when Jarvis ran free from Chambers before finding Kevin Nolan with a peach of a cross. The West Ham captain forced a decent save of Ospina. The warning signs were there though.
Another cross from Chambers was met with Ramsey's thigh. The attempt lacked any real power and was tipped over by Adrian. Ramsey should have tried a diving header.
Walcott missed yet another opportunity after Adrian's parry of Ozil's shot fell to the English striker. It just seemed like one of those frustrating days.
Just before the end of the first half Arsenal took the lead. And what a goal as well. Ozil and Ramsey combining brilliantly, before Giroud took the ball away from Ramsey and finished emphatically. At last the dominance had a reward.
SECOND HALF
West Ham started the better side with attempts for Jarvis and Noble, both off target however.
There was the rare sight of the referee being replaced with an hour gone. Fourth official Anthony Taylor took the place of Chris Foy, who had fallen victim to a calf strain.
Ozil was pulling the strings in midfield and twice elected to pass rather than choosing the better option of shooting. Once to Ramsey and once to Theo, both attempts again off target.
Arsenal did double their lead however. Giroud and Ramsey yet again combined brilliantly before the Welshman got a goal his performance so badly deserved, via a left footed finish.
Cazorla then created a goal for an unlikely sorce. Mathieu Flamini scoring a tap in to be the 21st Arsenal player to have scored this season. Some record that.
Welbeck had a chance with almost the last touch of the ball, heading the ball and forcing a save from Adrian.
A well deserved win ahead of the Monaco mission. None the less ensured Arsenal went in to the Monaco game full of confidence.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (7): Hardly had anything to do.
21: Calum Chambers (7): Suspect defensively but superb offensively, creating 2 wonderful opportunities for Ramsey and Sanchez.
6: Laurent Koscielny (8.5): Outstanding game shutting out everything thrown at him.
4: Per Mertesacker (7.5): Good performance by the German.
18: Nacho Monreal (7.5): Excellent game yet again.
34: Francis Coquelin (8): Made many sloppy passes initially. Got control over the game at a later stage and a good performance overall.
16: Aaron Ramsey (9): Made 5 tackles, scored a goal, an assist as well. Perfect all round display.
17: Alexis Sanchez (6.5): Not a great performance. Should do better and he will.
14: Theo Walcott (4.5): Terrible by Theo. Missing many chances. But I still believe he will start firing soon enough. He is getting into the right positions.
11: Mesut Ozil (7.5): Showed great understanding with Giroud and Ramsey. Should shoot when he has the chance though.
12: Olivier Giroud (9): Outstanding from the Frenchman. A goal and an assist. Some neat flicks as well.
SUBSTITUTES:
19: Santi Cazorla (7.5): Great cameo setting up the 3rd goal.
23: Danny Welbeck (7): Made some good runs.
20: Mathieu Flamini (7): Played at RW and to his credit got a goal.
HIGHLIGHTS