:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mentormedier/V6JWBZPOVZUV2OGUYOX5M4LR2U.jpg "Martin Ødegaard and Arsenal crushed West Ham – hanging on in the battle for the Premier League title – Dagsavisen")
After a quiet opening to the match, Arsenal proved their most effective side as they put four past West Ham’s Alphonse Areola during the final quarter of the first half.
With two more goals after the break, the London side delivered an impressive victory over what would normally be strong opposition.
Former West Ham player Declan Rice was among those who scored in the match. The midfielder hammered home the last goal of the game from long range and ensured a stinging defeat for his former employer.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was not among the goalscorers in the match, but was central to the attacking game and provided the assists for the fourth and fifth goals of the match.
The victory means that the red shirts remain in third place in the Premier League with 52 points. Manchester City have the same number, but have played one game less. Series leader Liverpool has a lead of two points.
Just after the half-hour played in Sunday’s match, William Saliba towered highest in the field and headed in a corner kick to make it 1-0. Eight minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty kick and Bukayo Saka hammered in the second of the match.
Gabriel Magalhães made it 3-0 soon after, before Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal’s fourth just before the break.
– What a football we got here in the second half of this first half, said Viaplay commentator Tor Ole Skullerud after the 4-0 score.
The visitors kept the initiative after the break and just after the hour mark, Saka hammered home his second of the afternoon. Rice allowed himself to be inspired and scored a clean shot on a long shot shortly afterwards to make it 6-0.