Ruthless Arsenal share the goals around as dominant Gabriel calls set-piece shots | OneFootball

Martin Odegaard’s return inspires resurgent Gunners to score 13 times in a single week, with Nicolas Jover working wonders

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If anyone was still wondering whether Arsenal are truly back to their best, this win at West Ham will surely banish any lingering doubts.

For the second time in a week, the Gunners put five goals past their opponents and this time they did it all in the first half.

It made for a scintillating opening 45 minutes, which also saw West Ham score twice. Not since 2012 has a Premier League match had seven first-half goals, with only three previous examples in total.

The second half was the opposite of the first. Not a single goal was scored and instead this game meandered to a quiet finish. Not that Mikel Arteta will have minded, with Arsenal hosting Manchester United on Wednesday night.

This trip to West Ham was all about Arsenal securing the win that closed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to six points. The Gunners can now sit back and watch Sunday’s showdown between the Reds and Manchester City in comfort.

Arsenal share the goals around - again

The Arsenal fans took great glee in chanting it to their West Ham counterparts at half-time: “Who put the ball in the West Ham net? Half the f*****g team did.”

Colourful language, but the point stands. During their first-half blitz, Arsenal had five different scorers. It was the same in Lisbon on Tuesday night, when Arteta’s side dispatched Sporting CP 5-1.

After months of looking turgid and flat in attack, the Gunners have found their spark again and everyone is contributing. The common factor is Martin Odegaard, and since his return to the team Arsenal have scored 14 goals in four games.

The Norwegian was majestic against West Ham, running the show and helping to create Leandro Trossard’s goal with a great dinked pass to Bukayo Saka.

On target again: Gabriel celebrated another set-piece goal for Arsenal against West Ham, before going off injured

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Gabriel calls the set-piece shots

Arsenal’s corner routines almost feel like NFL plays at times and, if that’s the case, then Gabriel is the quarterback.

Before Saka swung the ball in for the defender to head home Arsenal’s opener, Gabriel called him over for a quick huddle.

Saka was, presumably, left in no doubt where Gabriel wanted it and, after a run to the near post, he flicked the ball past Lukasz Fabianski.

It was another well-worked routine by Arsenal, which had set-piece coach Nicolas Jover jumping for joy on the touchline.

Jurrien Timber blocked Lucas Paqueta at the near post and, after Gabriel had lost Michail Antonio, the space was there for him take full advantage.

The Brazilian reacted by replicating the celebration he performed after scoring against Sporting on Tuesday.

There are some suggestions that Gabriel is pretending to be Batman, in response to Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres imitating Bane. Either way, the Arsenal defender is heroic from corners.

Trossard turns a corner

After a poor run of form earlier this season, this week must feel like a turning point for Trossard. The Belgian had previously not scored for Arsenal since September, but found the net against West Ham to add to his goal in Lisbon on Tuesday.

With Saka on the other wing, Trossard is unlikely to get many plaudits. However, it should not be forgotten what a valuable asset he can be. During the back end of last season, the former Brighton star was arguably Arsenal’s best player in the final 10 games of the title race.

His goal here, like the one at Sporting, was a tap-in, but it was followed by a great assist to set up Kai Havertz. Trossard played a lovely ball over the top for the German, who finished well to score Arsenal’s fourth of a frantic first half. With talk of a new contract for Trossard circulating, this was a timely reminder of what he can bring.

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