In a self-sabotaging move, Ben White netted his career’s second own goal, giving West Ham a critical advantage over Arsenal.
Declan Rice, who had recently transitioned from West Ham to Arsenal for a whopping £105 million, had a dismal comeback game. The result was Arsenal’s exit from the Carabao Cup in the fourth round, following a 3-1 loss.
Ben White inadvertently helped West Ham by heading the ball into his own net, a costly mistake for Aaron Ramsdale, who was making his first appearance for the club since September. Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen then solidified West Ham’s win, leaving Martin Odegaard’s late-game goal nothing more than a face-saving measure for Arsenal.
Coming off the bench in the second half, Rice couldn’t turn the tide in favor of Arsenal, effectively allowing his former team to proceed to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
West Ham first drew blood 16 minutes into the game with a corner kick, courtesy of Bowen. Ramsdale, who was closely marked by Tomas Soucek—gripping his jersey no less—had little chance of stopping Ben White from accidentally heading the ball past him. And since VAR isn’t in play in the League Cup’s earlier rounds, Ramsdale’s protests were essentially pointless.
Though Arsenal had the lion’s share of possession, their offensive attempts in the first half were futile. Eddie Nketiah missed their golden opportunity, sending the ball over the crossbar from just eight yards out after a knock-down from Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Five minutes into the second half, West Ham retaliated. Kudus expertly controlled Nayef Aguerd’s lengthy pass before calmly slotting it past Gabriel and into the net. A disorganized defensive play by White set the stage for Bowen’s sealing volley that wrong-footed Ramsdale, rendering the goalkeeper helpless.
Despite Odegaard’s last-minute goal, Arsenal’s three-decade-long drought in the League Cup continues, while West Ham secured their third consecutive quarter-final spot.
Declan Rice’s Unfruitful Homecoming
The much-anticipated return of Rice to West Ham since his transfer to Arsenal was high on the pre-game agenda. Rice, who had nearly 250 caps for West Ham and even led them to a Europa Conference League win in June, received a mixed bag of reactions from the crowd.
While Arsenal controlled most of the match, they had very little to show for it in terms of goals. Rice’s introduction from a star-studded Arsenal bench, which also featured talents like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Odegaard, could not tip the scales. His first forward pass was misjudged and ended up being a goal kick, to a chorus of boos and whistles.
West Ham looked like a team transformed compared to their lackluster performance in their last three games—a far cry from the “shambles” they had been labeled as by their own forward, Michail Antonio.
Match 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
Jarrod Bowen stood out with an impressive average rating of 8.04, taking the title of Player of the Match. He was closely followed by Mohammed Kudus, who had an average rating of 7.97.
So there you have it, folks! Another classic tale of David toppling Goliath, or in this case, West Ham showing Arsenal how it’s done. Until next time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Carabao Cup
Who scored the goals for West Ham in the 3-1 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup?
Ben White inadvertently scored an own goal, giving West Ham their first goal. Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen scored the remaining two goals to secure West Ham’s win.
How did Declan Rice perform on his return to West Ham?
Declan Rice had a disappointing return to West Ham, his former club. Coming off the bench in the second half, he couldn’t impact the game in a meaningful way, and Arsenal eventually lost 3-1.
What was the significance of Ben White’s own goal?
Ben White’s own goal set the stage for West Ham’s eventual win, providing them with a crucial lead. This was also the second own goal of Ben White’s professional career.
How did the player ratings look for the match?
Jarrod Bowen was the standout player of the match, earning an average rating of 8.04. He was followed by Mohammed Kudus with a 7.97 average rating.
Who had the majority of possession during the match?
Arsenal dominated the possession stats with 72%, compared to West Ham’s 28%. Despite this, Arsenal were unable to capitalize and lost the match.
Why is this match significant for Arsenal’s League Cup history?
This match extends Arsenal’s 30-year drought in the League Cup, as they were ousted in the fourth round by West Ham.
What were the key match statistics?
Arsenal had 72% possession, 14 shots, and 3 shots on target. West Ham had 28% possession, 5 shots, and 3 shots on target. Both teams committed 12 fouls and Arsenal had more corners, 6 compared to West Ham’s 4.
Was VAR involved in the match?
No, VAR was not in use for this stage of the Carabao Cup, which was particularly noteworthy when Tomas Soucek appeared to be holding Aaron Ramsdale’s shirt during West Ham’s first goal.
What was the crowd’s reaction to Declan Rice?
Declan Rice received a mixed reaction from the crowd; there were cheers as well as boos, especially when his first forward pass went astray, resulting in a goal kick.
How did Arsenal’s other key players perform?
Martin Odegaard scored a consolation goal deep into stoppage time, but other key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who came off the bench, could not turn the tide in Arsenal’s favor.
More about Carabao Cup
- Carabao Cup Official Site
- Arsenal Official Website
- West Ham United Official Website
- Match Summary on ESPN
- Player Ratings on WhoScored
- Declan Rice’s Transfer Details
- Arsenal’s League Cup History
- VAR in Football Explained
- Mohammed Kudus Player Profile
- Jarrod Bowen Player Profile
10 comments
Gotta say, the crowd’s reaction to Rice was like a scene from a drama. Mixed feelings, mixed reactions.
Ben White’s own goal was just the icing on the cake of disaster lol. Why do we always have to make life so hard for ourselves?
It’s like watching a suspense thriller, except you already know Arsenal’s gonna botch it up in the end. Classic.
Man, Arsenal really can’t catch a break, can they? 30 years and still no League Cup. At this point, it’s a curse or something.
Our boys did good today. Kudus and Bowen, future of the club right there.
Jarrod Bowen, you absolute legend. Best player on the field and that volley was pure class.
Rice coming back to West Ham and losing? That’s what I call poetic justice!
Did anyone else notice the stats? 72% possession for Arsenal and they still lose. Someone please explain how that works.
Honestly, why even have VAR if you’re not gonna use it? Soucek was clearly holding Ramsdale, smh.
Can we get a movie adaptation of this match? With the way Arsenal played, it would be a great comedy.