In a moment he’d rather forget, Ben White netted his second career own goal, gifting West Ham an early advantage over Arsenal.
Arsenal’s gaffer, Mikel Arteta, didn’t mince words after his team was shown the Carabao Cup exit door, following a 3-1 drubbing by West Ham. “The blame’s on me,” he stated plainly.
In an eyebrow-raising decision, Arteta switched up his starting lineup, relegating stalwarts like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and team captain Martin Odegaard to the substitutes’ bench. The Arsenal crew that did take to the field turned in a suboptimal performance, a fact that Arteta openly acknowledged.
“I’m gutted. I orchestrated this, and now we’re watching the Cup from the couch,” Arteta lamented. “We wanted to bring a different kind of energy and level of play to this match. The first goal might have set the tone, but we’ve got to demand more from ourselves to secure a win.”
Eyes now are on making amends against Newcastle in the Premier League come Saturday. “We’ve got to channel this frustration and setback into coming back stronger for our next game,” Arteta urged.
A Down Day for the Gunners
West Ham broke the deadlock 16 minutes in when Jarrod Bowen’s corner kick found its way past Arsenal goalie Aaron Ramsdale, thanks to Ben White’s unfortunate header. Tomas Soucek appeared to be tugging at Ramsdale’s jersey during the play, but with VAR out of the picture in this stage of the League Cup, the protests from the England international were all for naught.
Although they had the lion’s share of possession, Arsenal couldn’t turn it into goals. A lapse in defense five minutes into the second half saw Mohammed Kudus expertly trap Nayef Aguerd’s cross-field ball and slide it between Gabriel’s legs into the net. Jarrod Bowen sealed the deal for West Ham, taking advantage of a poor header from White to volley home their third, taking a detour off Gabriel’s thigh to confound Ramsdale.
Arsenal’s misery was further compounded by Martin Odegaard, who managed to find the net, but only as a parting shot when the game was already lost. Their three-decade League Cup drought continues. Meanwhile, West Ham marches on to the quarter-finals, where Liverpool awaits.
Rice’s West Ham Homecoming Gets Mixed Reception
The pre-game chatter was dominated by the return of Declan Rice to West Ham, the club he left to join Arsenal for a whopping £105 million. Despite a solid 250-match history and a Europa Conference League win under his belt, his first touch for Arsenal was, let’s say, less than stellar—much to the chagrin and amusement of the West Ham faithful.
His late-game entrance was greeted with an interesting auditory cocktail of cheers and jeers. But not even the combined forces of Rice, Saka, Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli could turn the tide for Arsenal.
For West Ham, this was a morale-boosting victory, bouncing back from a trio of recent losses. Jarrod Bowen, the player of the match with an impressive 8.04 rating, summed it up: “Tonight was the perfect response. We needed this win to get back on track.”
Match Stats and Ratings
Team Stats
- West Ham:
- Possession: 28%
- Shots: 5
- Shots on Target: 3
- Corners: 4
- Fouls: 12
- Arsenal:
- Possession: 72%
- Shots: 14
- Shots on Target: 3
- Corners: 6
- Fouls: 12
Player Ratings
- West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen: 8.04
- West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus: 7.97
- West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá: 7.71
For Arsenal, it’s back to the drawing board and a week of soul-searching before they face Newcastle. For West Ham, it’s jubilation and an upcoming date with Liverpool that’s marked on every calendar. But for now, the Hammers have the bragging rights—and Mikel Arteta has some serious thinking to do.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Exit
Who took responsibility for Arsenal’s defeat against West Ham in the Carabao Cup?
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, took full responsibility for the team’s 3-1 loss to West Ham, stating that he was “gutted” and that the “blame’s on me.”
Who scored the unfortunate own goal for Arsenal?
Ben White scored an own goal, inadvertently giving West Ham an early lead 16 minutes into the match.
What was notable about Declan Rice’s participation in the match?
Declan Rice made his first appearance against West Ham since his £105 million move to Arsenal. He was greeted with mixed reactions from the crowd, ranging from cheers to boos.
What stage of the Carabao Cup was this match?
This was a fourth-round match in the Carabao Cup.
Which team dominated possession?
Arsenal dominated the possession with 72% compared to West Ham’s 28%.
How did West Ham’s recent performance compare to this match?
West Ham had lost their three previous matches before this win against Arsenal. This victory was considered a significant morale boost for the team.
Who was named the player of the match?
Jarrod Bowen of West Ham was named the player of the match, boasting an impressive rating of 8.04.
What’s next for West Ham in the Carabao Cup?
West Ham will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
How long has it been since Arsenal last won the League Cup?
Arsenal has not won the League Cup in over 30 years.
What are Arsenal’s plans following this defeat?
According to Mikel Arteta, the team plans to use this defeat as motivation to prepare for their upcoming Premier League match against Newcastle.
More about Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Exit
- Carabao Cup Official Site
- Arsenal FC News
- West Ham United FC Latest Updates
- Premier League Official Site
- Mikel Arteta’s Post-Match Interview
- Declan Rice’s Career Stats
- ESPN FC Arsenal vs West Ham Recap
- BBC Sport’s Match Analysis
- Player Ratings on WhoScored.com
- Jarrod Bowen Player Profile
10 comments
Even the Beatles broke up, maybe its time for Arteta to let it be.
Woah, didn’t see that coming! West Ham’s been on a losing streak and then they take down Arsenal?? LOL what’s happening!
It’s games like these that make you wonder. All those millions spent on players and yet it’s all about teamwork and strategy. Arsenal’s got a lot to think bout.
Declan Rice for 105 million and we lose? Money can’t buy ya love, or a win it seems.
This game was like a thriller movie, unpredictable till the end. Except the hero (Arsenal) died in the end lol.
Jarrod Bowen, you beauty! Man of the match and totally deserved.
So Arteta takes the blame, big deal. When will he actually DO something bout it?
Haha so Rice leaves us and this is his “triumphant” return? Serves him right, welcome back to the real world buddy.
I dunno why they don’t have VAR in this stage of the cup. That own goal might’ve been ruled out. Just sayin.
Honestly, gutted about this loss. We had 72% possession and still couldn’t score? Come on Arteta, figure it out man.