An Andy Carroll hat-trick overcame an early Gunners lead, but the points would be split in an entertaining contest at the Boleyn Ground.
After the Hammers were denied a goal to Manuel Lanzini in the 14th, Arsenal wasted no time capitalising on their good fortune, with Mesut Ozil putting the Gunners in front just four minutes later.
It looked like the visitors would take a 2-0 lead into the break, before Andy Carroll headed home a cross from Aaron Cresswell and levelled the scores just three minutes later.
West Ham took the lead just six minutes into the second half as Carroll completed his hat-trick, but Laurent Koscielny found the net in the 70th to bring it back to level terms.
Here’s how we saw each player’s performance.
West Ham
Adrian – 7: Was left stranded by his defense as Arsenal scored the first two. Snapped up a low, skidding shot from Sanchez. Solid as the Gunners pressed for three points.
James Tomkins – 4: Was caught out by a slick Arsenal attack early in the piece. Substituted off during the break.
Winston Reid – 7: Held his own in one-out duels with Welbeck. A solid performance in a physical contest.
Angelo Ogbonna – 7.5: Cleared up a low Ozil cross early on. Combined with Noble to kick-start West Ham’s attacks. The most impressive of the Hammers’ defensive unit.
Michail Antonio – 5: Created chances early but lacked finish. Had little impact in the second half.
Aaron Cresswell – 7.5: Long passing was on target but Kouyate and Antonio couldn’t finish. Whipped in a cross late in the first half to find Carroll who scored. Tracked back and helped out in defense in the second half.
Mark Noble – 7: Matched Coquelin’s physicality early. Linked with Ogbonna and Payet to play the Hammers in on the right side.
Cheikhou Kouyate – 5: Linked up well with Cresswell and Antonio but couldn’t convert opportunities.
Dimitri Payet – 8.5: Had set piece opportunities early but was too far out to score. Linked with Noble to play Kouyate and Antonio in but the forwards couldn’t finish. Looked a class above.
Manuel Lanzini – 6: Early header went just wide of the post. Found the net off a deflection in the 14th but the flag was up. Got on the end of a productive Hammers midfield often enough, but couldn’t convert his chances.
Andy Carroll – 8.5: Earned an early card for a kick at Koscielny. Played in Lanzini for opener but called offside. Latched onto a superb cross from Cresswell to score in the 44th, and thrashed an equaliser past Ospina three minutes later. Headed home his hat-trick in the 52nd.
Substitutes
Emmanuel Emenike – 4: came on for Tomkins at the half and couldn’t make an impact.
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