West Ham United hosted Arsenal in their third game in six days hoping to get a much needed lift on Saturday evening but what they got was far from it.
After an encouraging performance at Old Trafford last Sunday and taking a point, the Hammers produced a woeful performance against Arsenal. Slaven Bilic made four changes to the team that started the week before, coming in were Winston Reid, Manuel Fernandes, Arthur Masuaku and Ashley Fletcher, at the expense of the injured Cheikhou Kouyate, Michail Antonio, Diafra Sakho and Aaron Cresswell.
In the opening exchanges there wasn't much to separate the two sides and chances were few and far between. As the game went on, Arsenal were starting to get a feel for it and were playing with a much more relaxed and fluid style and this resulted in the opening goal just after the 20 minute mark. Mesut Ozil opened the scoring with Arsenal's first shot on target after Angelo Ogbonna's mistake and Alexis Sanchez's cut-back set up a simple finish.
West Ham were lucky to have not conceded again before half time and would have been very encouraged that they went into the break still very much in the game. The home side actually started the first 15 minutes of the second half the brighter of the two sides and it wouldn't have been against the run of play if they managed to find an equaliser. Ashley Fletcher going closest with a shot from outside the area, just going wide of the post.
However, West Ham's pressure was undone when Sanchez turned, drove into the box and finished brilliantly past Darren Randolph to put his side 2-0 up and most probably out of sight. The Chilean added a second eight minutes later with a low strike into the corner to really rub salt in the wounds and put the game to bed for sure.
Andy Carroll came on for a first appearance since 18 August and stooped to nod in the rebound from a Dimitri Payet free-kick that hit the bar to give West Ham a slight consolation and make the scoreline a little less embarassing. The away side made it worse very shortly after though as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's excellent finish from range and Sanchez's masterful dinked chip over the keeper made it 5-1 and a disastrous evening for West Ham United.
It doesn't get any easier next for Slaven Bilic's men as they travel to Anfield next weekend to face Liverpool and Bilic is definitely coming under mounting pressure to turn this season around.
Goalkeeper and defence
Darren Randolph (5) - The worst thing about this is that Darren Randolph wasn't actually that bad. If it wasn't for him then it could have been a cricket score and it's a shame that the scoreline makes it look like an awful game for the keeper.
Angelo Ogbonna (4) - The Italian was run ragged by Alexis Sanchez and didn't know what to do with him. It is expected that a player of his standard will cause defences problems but Ogbonna was not up to the task at all.
Winston Reid (5) - Again, he wasn't terrible but it is hard to praise a back four that have just conceded five goals. Like his defensive counterpart, Ogbonna, he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game and looked a shadow of his former self.
Arthur Masuaku (4) - He had moments where he wanted to make things happen but his defensive performance was not up to scratch whatsoever.
James Collins (N/A) - The Welshman was substituted early on through injury so played very little part in the game.
Midfield and attack
Mark Noble (4) - He looked completely lost and it was easy to see the difference in class and technical ability between him and the Arsenal midfield. He was never eager to get on the ball and didn't see one bit of fight from someone who is renowned for that when the team needs a lift.
Pedro Obiang (6) - He was one of the better players for West Ham but he still wasn't great. Whenever he had the ball he was trying his best to get players into space but no one was working with him. Definitely wasn't his fault that everyone around him looked uninterested.
Manuel Fernandes (3) - Someone who has looked very encouraging since getting a few first team appearances was very bad today. Lost the ball countless times in the middle and never looked eager to win possession when chasing the ball.
Manuel Lanzini (5) - Usually full of attacking flare, the Argentinian looked very average and didn't give the Arsenal defence anything to think about. Looks like he is losing the confidence that made him the player he was last season.
Dimitri Payet (5) - He looks like he is giving up on this team at times. He looks very uninterested and never eager to run with the ball when he has got it. He often loses possession too and never tracks back to help the defence out when they are under pressure. There is no doubting his talent but there are going to be no big sides chasing his signature if he continues to put these sorts of performances in.
Ashley Fletcher (5) - He was very isolated up front but he worked hard and nearly scored in the second half. He is a bright spark for this side and one for the future, but West Ham need someone for now, and he probably isn't the man for the moment.
Substitutes
Alvaro Arbeloa (3) - The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid full back came on early in place of James Collins and he was beaten every time on that flank. He is two or three yards off the pace which is expected as he gets older but his technical ability looks to have been completely lost. A very bad performance.
Andre Ayew (4) - He came on as an impact sub just past the hour mark and made little if any impact. He has had a few games to settle in now and he really needs to start performing otherwise the record signing will look like a waste of money.
Andy Carroll (5) - Also brought on as an impact sub, he was unfortunately brought on five minutes too late in many peoples eyes. Slaven Bilic waited and waited and just before he was brought on, Arsenal got the second goal and killed all of the growing momentum that West Ham had in the game. He did however, score the home sides only goal and who knows, if he came on with the score still 1-0, it could have been a whole different story.