Arsenal recovered from a goal down to beat West Ham United 3-1 at Emirates Stadium and move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
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Said Benrahma put the Hammers in front with a 26th-minute penalty after William Saliba fouled Jarrod Bowen in the box before second-half strikes from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah sealed an important victory.
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Rapid reaction
1. Arsenal’s momentum continues following World Cup break
By the end, it was like they had never been away. Arsenal made a slow start Monday in falling behind even though that Benrahma goal came against the run of play. Saliba’s sloppiness seemed to encapsulate fears that the timing of the World Cup could affect Arsenal more than most Premier League sides given they had exceeded all expectations to top the table in the first part of the campaign.
Yet they stuck to the task admirably with the zest and energy in their attacking play rewarded with a stirring second-half comeback which ensures the feel-good factor around Emirates Stadium continues. As if to aid the segue from World Cup to domestic action, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger — now FIFA’s head of global football development — was in attendance for the first time since leaving the club in 2018. Wenger may have departed amid deep divisions in the fanbase over his latter-day management, but he received a hero’s welcome here.
The Gunners have never looked more robust in the four and a half years since he left. Time will tell if Arsenal can last the pace to land their first league title since 2004 (under Wenger) but a seven-point lead at this stage is very encouraging.
