Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Arsenal 2 West Ham 1

Arrived back from a week in the Lake District to discover that West Ham still haven't signed any players and Arthur Masuaku is our new secret weapon at the Emirates. Fklush with scaling seven Wainwright fells I decide to part with £10 for a Now TV pass. Playing five at the back works reasonably well initially and the side looks more like the effective unit that finished last season, with Bowen always threatening on the break and Ogbonna having a header from a corner saved by Leno. 

Arsenal take the lead on 25 minutes as a just-about-onside Aubameyang crosses and Rice fails to track Lacazette who heads into the top corner. But the Hammers show character to keep threatening and have a penalty appeal turned down after Gabriel handles. According to today's ridiculous rules it should have been given as the ball landed on Gabriel's shirt sleeve — Palace got an even softer decision at Old Trafford. But the Hammers deservedly equalise right on half-time. Soucek finds Bowen, who in turn plays in the overlapping Fredericks. The right-back fires in a great low cross and a gleeful Antonio sweeps home.

For most of the second half the Irons threaten to snatch a winner, most notably when Antonio heads against the bar from Masuaku's cross. When maverick wing-back Arthur fires in another great cross Leno just manages to gather on the line after the ball deflects off Antonio and Gabriel. At this point it would surely have been better to bring on Haller to try and snatch a winner.

But all the good work is ruined with five minutes left as sub Yarmolenko fails to run with Ceballos who breaks behind our three centre-backs to cross for Nketiah to tap home. Moyes sends on Haller and Anderson very late. Felipe does a bit of showboating when he should be lumping it into the box but then does well to cut back for Haller who is foiled by a great challenge from Holding.

It's not the despair I can't take, etc. We really should have won this, but at least it was a much improved performance on the Newcastle game. Though playing well and getting nothing is also a sign of a team in relegation trouble. Arsenal scored two goals from three shots on target and both goals were the result of failing to track runners. You can see why Moyes wants a defensive organiser — but will he be allowed to get one by our board?