The Gunners netted four times in the first half (Pictures: Getty / Sky Sports)
Roy Keane has branded West Ham’s first-half performance against Arsenal an ‘absolute disgrace’ as thousands of fans left early following a disastrous display from the home side.
The Gunners went to the London Stadium expecting a tough test, having already lost to the Hammers twice this season, but they dominated every facet of Sunday’s game and finally took a deserved lead just after the half-hour mark as William Saliba headed home a corner.
That opened the floodgates, with West Ham unable to deal with the waves of attack that were crashing against them, and Arsenal doubled their lead from the penalty spot through Bukayo Saka after he was brought down in the box.
Two more goals followed before the break, with another set-piece allowing Gabriel Magalhaes to power home from close range before Leandro Trossard finished off a fine sweeping move with a lovely finish.
Before the Belgian had even found the back of the net, thousands of West Ham fans were making their way out of the stadium while there were loud boos from those that stayed when the half-time whistle was blown.
West Ham’s performance was uncharacteristically timid for a David Moyes team with Arsenal enjoying an incredible level of superiority, mustering 15 shots – seven of which were on target – and enjoying 72 per cent possession.
Keane, who was analysing the game for Sky Sports, was astonished by how badly West Ham played and hit out at their performance, saying they lacked desire, work rate and quality.
Arsenal cut through West Ham’s rear-guard at will (Picture: Getty)
Talking about Trossard’s fourth goal, he began: ‘This was rubbing salt into the wounds. West Ham brutal. Shocking.
‘Really frustrating from West Ham, the [lack of] movement, there’s no-one making any tackles.
‘But credit to Arsenal, they’re making the most of it. One or two touch, no-one gets near him, beautiful finish, 4-0.
‘I can’t believe what I’m watching. The way they’re getting beaten physically, set-pieces.
‘West Ham in the last 10 or 15 minutes [of the half] have been an absolute disgrace.’
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He continued: ‘They’ve not turned up. The first half-an-hour was a bit cagey, Arsenal got on top, but it’s the type of goals they’re giving away.
‘They’re not being physical, they’re not tackling, nobody has laid a glove on Odegaard!
‘There’s ways to lose a game of football but the way West Ham are doing it, they look old, they look sluggish in midfield, they’re running back, no desire, no hunger.
‘David Moyes must be fuming at half-time. All credit to Arsenal, they’ve turned up, flexed their muscles. They look sharp, they look at it. West Ham a disgrace.’
Things did not improve after the restart, with Saka adding another goal before former Hammer Declan Rice fired a brilliant long-range effort into the far corner to make it six for the visitors.
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