Arsenal thrash West Ham 6-0 to boost title hopes

Arsenal’s English Premier League title bid received a major boost on Sunday, as they thrashed West Ham United 6-0 at the London Stadium. The dominant victory leaves West Ham without a win in seven games since beating Arsenal, in December.

Buoyed by last week’s pivotal win over rivals Liverpool, Arsenal ruthlessly dismantled West Ham in a devastating first-half display. The Gunners created multiple early chances before William Saliba headed them in front from a 33rd-minute corner. Bukayo Saka, who had gone close several times, made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after being fouled by Alphonse Areola.

Shellshocked, West Ham conceded again minutes later when ex-West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who assisted with the Saliba goal, set up his defense partner Gabriel Magalhães for a simple close-range header. The points were sealed before half-time as Leandro Trossard curled home a fine strike to make it 4-0 at the interval.

With the contest effectively over, West Ham fans began leaving in droves. Unlike the Newcastle comeback from 4-0 to 4-4 in 2011, this time there would be no dramatic revival as Saka grabbed his second after the break before Rice piled on the misery with a blistering long-range effort.

The 6-0 drubbing represents West Ham’s heaviest home league defeat since 1963. For title-chasing Arsenal, the thumping win boosts their goal difference to match that of second-placed Manchester City as the title race hots up.